I WAS shocked to read your report Feeble excuses from truants (Shuttle/Times & News, December 19).

As one of the parents concerned I feel I must make a stand for all of us who seem to be tarred with an oily brush.

My son was ambushed while we were in the manager's office in the Swan Centre, Kidderminster, where, on the way from the car park to the orthodontist, I decided to buy two lights on the Kemp House Christmas tree in memory of my parents who both passed away this year.

While I was trying to compose my thoughts the welfare officer and police were firing questions at my son, who incidentally was in his school uniform.

These people had no respect to let me, as his parent, finish what I was doing.

I notice there was no mention in the report of children not accompanied by parents - obviously, too hard a target.

I see this truancy sweep was sponsored by our Government -yet another waste of taxpayers' money.

We see in the news this week, another child dead because welfare officers did not do their job. Perhaps the police involved in this truant raid might be put to better use as it is no longer safe for women to walk the streets at night and rural shops and properties are often burgled in the early hours.

It seems in this day and age it is unacceptable for our children to skive a day off school for Christmas shopping but acceptable for our Government to send our children to die in a forthcoming war.

Mrs K PHILLIPS

Ludlow Road

Cleobury Mortimer