The sweep, organised by St Helens Council in partnership with Merseyside Police, was called following concerns that some children were turning up at school in mid-morning or even at lunchtime.

And as well as stopping 30 students during school hours last week, police also stopped one youngster for a drug offence.

A spokesman for St Helens Council said the sweeps are held in the borough throughout the year.

He added: "Borough attendance levels have been steadily rising during the past few years.

"The council continues to press home the message to parents that it is their responsibility to ensure that their children go to school and, if they fail to do so, they will be prosecuted."

The council says it is vital that pupils in Newton are made aware of the need to regularly attend school.

Some 100 parents were taken to court across St Helens last year following similar sweeps and parents can be jailed if their children are found to be repeat offenders.

Ironically, attendance was not seen to be a problem at either of the town's high schools in recent reports by schools watchdog Ofsted.

St Aelred's High School was seen as having a good attendance record in its September inspection while officials inspecting Newton High School said that attendance was satisfactory.

According to statistics, attendances in schools across the borough have been on the rise in recent years.

Newton police were unavailable for comment.

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