Officers on truant watch

Sweeps of the town centre and Woodfield Retail Park will be carried out on Wednesday and Thursday (March 28-29).

Education welfare officers, supported by police, will be stopping and quizzing children of school age, whether alone or accompanied by an adult.

Parents could be taken to court if a child is persistently caught off school without reason.

Lifelong Learning chairman Councillor Trevor Holt said: "This is not the first time that we have carried out checks of this kind and it will not be the last.

"Bury has built up quite an enviable reputation when it comes to the high standards being achieved by our schools. We want to ensure that every child gets the full opportunity to benefit from that. "Parents who condone their children being away from school during term time for no valid reason should be under no illusion. We will do whatever is necessary to make sure that they uphold their responsibilities."

The council has recently brought more parents before the courts after the persistent non-attendance of their children at school.

Amanda Russell of Grosvenor Street, Radcliffe, was fined £160 with £50 costs after magistrates heard that her child failed to attend Radcliffe High School on 84 of a possible 124 occasions. John Rea, of Seddon Place, Radcliffe, whose son attends the same school, was fined £70 with £50 costs. The boy had not attended on 62 out of a possible 134 occasions.

Susan Ellaway of Otter Drive, Bury, was fined £100 with £50 costs. Her son, a pupil at Castlebrook High, attended on just 27 out of a possible 126 occasions.

Head of Education Welfare Mr Alan Cogswell said: "Our staff will be out and about on the streets and, while on this occasion we are giving advance notice, that will not always be the case.

"It is the responsibility of a child's parents or carers to make sure that they go to school.

"Parents should be aware that the Government have recently raised the maximum fine to £2,500."