TRUANT teenagers are being targeted in a hard-hitting poster campaign at bus shelters across East Lancashire.

Eye-catching posters with the message of "Bunking Off - Missing Out" have been put up at billboards on main roads and near secondary schools.

The campaign, supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire County Council, is part of a new national initiative to combat truancy.

Pupils skipping school is a growing problem in many areas, with part-time jobs, holidays, shopping and other parental decisions among the reasons.

In any one year around a million children play truant for at least half a day. A TUC/Mori poll in 2001 found that 100,000 16-year-olds play truant every day to hold down jobs.

During truancy sweeps completed in Lancashire last November and December, 598 children and teenagers were stopped, including 101 who were not accompanied by their parents.

Mike Sunderland, acting area education welfare office for Lancashire County Council, said: "Not only are these young people missing out on their education which could give them more options for their future, but they are also increasingly vulnerable to becoming involved in crime or becoming the victim of crime themselves."

Lawrence Warburton, principal education welfare officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The safest and smartest place for children and young people is in school - if they're not there, they really are missing out."

The posters, which will be displayed throughout February, are in Colne, Burnley, Rawtenstall, Accrington, Blackburn and Chorley.

Both LCC and Blackburn with Darwen authorities support regular truancy sweeps involving joint working between the education welfare services, the police, Connexions, youth and community and youth offending teams.