AN AMAZING 90 school pupils were stopped and questioned on the first day of a truancy clampdown.

Police and education welfare officers spoke to school age youngsters in Leigh, Tyldesley, Atherton, Hindley and Golborne town centres on Tuesday as warnings were issued that parents who allow their children to "bunk off" school face imprisonment or fines of up to £2,500.

In a bid to cut unauthorised absences by a third before the end of the year truancy sweeps this week got underway in Journal-land.

School age youngsters found in public places during normal school hours were confronted and asked -- in strict accordance with Home Office rules -- why they weren't at school.

A proportion of those approached were accompanied by adults and excuses ranged from being in town because they were "off sick" to suddenly deciding to visit the dentist's.

Nationwide figures show that every year at least a million pupils play truant for at least half a day -- and sometimes parents condone the truancy.

Worryingly figures show those who play truant are those most likely to leave school without qualifications and be drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour.

New powers have been given to the Police by the Government to stop young people whether alone, with friends or accompanied by an adult. If the patrolling officer suspects a pupil is out of school without authority they may be escorted back to school or to council premises where education welfare staff will run a check.

The youngster will then either be escorted back to school, taken home or told to remain until collected. Parents or carers will be informed if the pupils is escorted home or allowed to leave. But in every case the school and welfare officers will follow up the absence.

Director of Education Bob Clark commented: "Many children sadly still see playing 'wag' as fun, and even more sadly, many parents condone it.

"It is a silly way to invite very unfortunate consequences for the rest of their lives.

"We support the Government completely in this and are glad to be working alongside local police in carrying out the sweeps. Parents should note Government plans to introduce a penalty of up to £2,500 or three months in prison."

Inspector Bill Dyke of Wigan Police said: "Children can get in to trouble and this can have a very negative effect on the rest of their lives. It increases the workload of officers responding to calls about youths causing annoyance. These types of calls are already a massive drain on resources which we would much rather use to better effect.

"Quite a large proportion of those questioned were actual truants. We weren't expecting so many. It just shows what the scale of the problem is. Parents need to be thinking what their kids are dong -- if they are not in school what are they getting up to?"