A HARD-hitting campaign is being stepped up following two successful truancy sweeps in Leigh and Wigan town centres earlier this year.

A freephone hotline is being set up to squeal on wags, and a series of radio commercials will take a tough and tender approach.

The campaign kicks off this month and is being jointly funded by Wigan and St Helens education authorities.

The Wish FM commercials follow the town centre clampdown in which 300 young people who were found to be out of school during the day, werw stopped and spoken to.

Education chiefs say more sweeps are planned in the future.

Wigan Council's cabinet member for lifelong learning, Cllr Brian Wilson, said: "We are determined to help young people -- and their parents -- understand that there is nothing clever or good about missing school.

"On one level, we want to raise awareness of the damage to their future lives and the harm done to their job prospects, but on another level, society as a whole should be more pro-active in helping to tackle truancy.

"All the evidence shows that much of the youth crime and vandalism is carried out by truants."

The freephone hotline number is 0800 953 0614 and calls will be taken in confidence.