POLICE today praised parents for doing their bit in helping to reduce truancy in Rossendale.

Police Community Support Officer Pauline Cadman and Lancashire County Council education welfare officer Mary Owen patrolled the streets of Rawtenstall and Haslingden yesterday to catch any stay-away pupils.

The swoop, which targeted key sites where pupils were most likely to be caught skipping class - such as supermarkets and town centres - found eight children not at school.

All the children stopped were accompanied by parents and, when asked why they were not at school, all had genuine reasons for being away from class in the form of appointments, legitimate absence, expulsion, or waiting for a school placement after moving to Rossendale.

The figures show a dramatic reduction in youngsters not turning up for lessons after 62 children were caught bunking off school during the same period last year.

PC Simon Butterworth, Rossendale Police's youth involvement officer, said: "Local community beat managers have worked with education welfare officers in a partnership approach in conducting this truancy sweep.

"Truancy is a real problem and can leave young people in very vulnerable situations.

"Truancy sweeps are therefore an essential element of our partnership approach to protect young people and reduce crime. The onus is on parents to ensure their children go to school, and it seems that parents have taken heed of warnings that have been sent out, which is good news.

"All the children of both primary and secondary school age were with parents and had legitimate reasons as to why they were not at school. Further swoops are to take place in the near future."