A BROMSGROVE headteacher has backed the hefty fines and prison sentences, which could face parents allowing their children to persistently play truant from school.

Phil McTague of South Bromsgrove High School spoke to the Advertiser/Messenger yesterday, following the truancy sweeps which took place in the town last Wednesday.

"Yes, there were children from South Bromsgrove found on the truancy sweep and they were delivered straight back to school," he confirmed.

"We have followed through the reasons to why they were away from school, some, I have to say were away from school for very legitimate reasons."

Police officers from Bromsgrove teamed up with Worcestershire County Council's educational welfare officers to carry out the sweep, and found 37 children absent from school.

Some were accompanied by parents or another adult and some were as young as six.

The Charford Road school has an excellent rate of attendance and employs an on-site counsellor, where children can go to discuss their all their concerns, both educational and social.

"Children play truant for all sorts of reasons, sometimes because they are dealing with a family break-up or bereavement and need time and space," he added.

"However, on very rare occasions parents do allow their children to play truant without legitimate reasons. And when parents persistently allow their children to do so, then they should be subject to the law like everyone else."

Bromsgrove police and officers from the educational welfare department are planning to carry out further truancy sweeps in the future.

Sergeant Steve Tristram from Bromsgrove police said: "Many of the children were very surprised to be discovered truanting and they were escorted back to school. Ultimately parents could end up in court and face a fine of £2000 or a prison sentence if their children persist in truanting."