WELFARE officers will be swooping on school truants in a two day crackdown.

The officers, supported by local police, will be asking children in Bury town centre and at Woodfields Retail Park to explain why they are not in class.

Cllr Trevor Holt, chairman of Bury Council's Lifelong Learning group said: "This is not the first time that we have carried out checks and it will not be the last. Unauthorised absenteeism is not a huge problem, but we intend to crackdown on it whenever it appears."

Alan Cogswell, head of Education Welfare, added: "Our staff will be out and about on the streets next week and while on this occasion we are giving advance notice, that will not always be the case. At the end of the day it is the responsibility of a child's parents or carers to make sure that they go to school. Young people deserve the very best start that we can give them and where necessary we will take a tough line on absence. Parents should be aware that the Government has recently raised the maximum fine to £2,500."