ONE in every 10 children in Worcestershire played truant from school at least once last year, new figures have revealed.

The average number of half-days missed by the youngsters who skipped primary school lessons without permission was eight, the Department for Education said.

In secondary schools, the figure was worse - with truants missing an average of 15 half-days.

The department's latest attendance bulletin shows that - out of a total of 33,263 primary school pupils - 2,268 were absent without permission.

A total of 4,600 out of 37,653 secondary pupils in the county were recorded as playing truant.

The percentage of days missed through unauthorised absence was 0.2 per cent of total primary school time and 0.6 per cent of secondary school time.

This compared to national averages of 0.5 per cent and 1.1 per cent.

The figures were released after the Government threatened a new get-tough approach for parents who fail to get their children to school.

Head teachers will be allowed to impose £50 penalty fines - similar to those to be handed out by the police for drunkenness - to the worst offenders.

Parents

And a new wave of "truancy sweeps" is being launched this month, to round up youngsters skipping lessons and take them back to class.

The Government announced last month that parents will be given 12 weeks to get them to lessons or face a £2,500 fine - or even jail.