PUPILS who duck out of school in Wyre Forest have been issued with a stark warning after a clampdown on youngsters playing truant was hailed a success.

Ten young people were rounded up across Kidderminster by police and education welfare officers on Friday as part of a Government drive to reduce truancy by a third nationally by July.

It was the second sweep to take place in the town in the last two months - and truants in Bewdley and Stourport will be targeted next.

The issue is clearly close to the top of the Government's agenda, with Prime Minister Tony Blair controversially considering denying child benefit to the parents of persistent truants.

The Government has also asked Local Education Authorities to make the most of powers to remove truants afforded to them by the 1988 Crime and Disorder Act.

The purges in Kidderminster have been masterminded by principal education welfare officer Tim Scott.

Five welfare officers and five police officers spent the day combing the streets of the town centre and residential areas to tackle young people who should have been in school.

A wide age range of unaccompanied pupils were taken to two designated centres - Harry Cheshire High School and Birchen Coppice Middle School - and from there back to their own schools or homes.

Senior education welfare officer Tom Hunter said many children were with their parents - and so could not be rounded up - and was disappointed with the range of unlikely excuses offered as to why they were not in school.

Mr Blair said this week 80 per cent of absentees were with their parents.

"Condoned absence is actually worse than uncondoned absence," Mr Hunter said.

"But some parents were genuine and seemed pleased, saying it was nice to see someone is concerned."

A "shopwatch" system has also been launched which involves town centre shops informing police when they spot potential truants.

Reducing truancy has a knock-on effect of reducing the risk of harm to youngsters and lessening the crime and nuisance they can cause.

The education welfare service will not reveal when it will next take to the streets - but the message is clear.

"If you play truant in Wyre Forest there is a very good chance you will get caught," said Mr Hunter.