REDDITCH'S MP has given town schools a pat on the back for keeping unauthorised truancy in check - but warned parents of serial truants that they could be prosecuted.

Jacqui Smith, who is also Schools Minister, launched a government crackdown on unauthorised absenteeism last week, but said schools in Worcestershire bucked the trend.

Speaking from the Labour Party Conference yesterday she said the fractional increase in high school truancy in the town was due to headteachers taking a stricter approach when compiling the attendance figures.

Unauthorised absence in secondary schools throughout the county rose from 0.61 per cent in 2003/4 to 0.81 per cent in 2004/5 - lower than the national average of 1.25 per cent.

At primary level, truancy levels were slightly down from 0.23 per cent to 0.22 per cent, compared with the national average which rose from 0.41 per cent to 0.43 per cent.

The parents of the worst serial truants of almost 150 schools around the country will be given 12 weeks to turn things around or face prosecution - but no Redditch schools will be targeted.

Ms Smith said: "Attendance in Worcestershire is actually higher than ever and schools in Redditch in particular have done very good work in clamping down on truancy."

Headteacher of Astwood Bank First School, Christine Rider, said: "There are virtually no unauthorised absences here but I do welcome the move by travel agents to offer discounts for families during school holidays."