PARENTS of persistent truants in the Tenbury area could be hit with spot fines of £50 if they continually fail to send their children to school.

County education chiefs at Worcester have agreed to incorporate the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 into the services already undertaken by education welfare officers and will serve penalty notices on regular offenders.

But Stuart Cooke, head of Tenbury High, said truancy at his school was uncommon.

"We are a small school with good community links, making it very difficult for pupils to leave the site without being noticed or being reported to us by a member of the public," he said.

"We also provide an interesting curriculum and stimulating teaching in a pleasant environment with staff and pupils sharing a very good relationship.

"Our close links with families enable us to work closely with the parents of pupils experiencing difficulties in school and this makes it easier to solve their problems and get them back on track.

"We will continue to make coming to school productive and enjoyable which goes some way to helping reduce our truancy rate."

Andy Roberts, the county council's cabinet member for education, said: "Compared to the national average, truancy in Worcestershire is generally very low.

"However, I have spoken to a number of head teachers about this and they confirm that when strong action is taken against parents who continually allow children to miss school, the attendance rate goes up."

Education welfare officers will be drawing up new protocols with head teachers and the police for administering the new system and penalty notices will be served only as a last resort.