THE parents of Halton High truants have been punished in a court crack down.

The school joined forces with Halton Council in a 'hard line' stance.

Four mothers were fined hundreds of pounds between them because their children didn't go to 80 per cent of lessons and then didn't meet personal attendance targets.

Halton High head teacher John Rowlands said: "The prosecutions are to get to grips with their poor attendance and the condoned non-attendance by parents. We won't stand for it. We have taken a fairly hard line because we attach great importance on pupils' education.

"We offer children and parents support and we have a range of measures before we take them to court.

"This is very much a last resort when all the other strategies haven't worked.

"We want to get the children back into school where we believe they will have a very good education."

Margaret Chan of Owen Street in St Helens was prosecuted because her Year 11 daughter Lyndsey missed 67 days out of 128, 58 of them without a reason, and was late another 22 times.

She pleaded guilty by post, saying she had tried her best to get Lyndsey to attend. She was fined £50 and ordered to pay £35 costs.

Angela Prescott, of Navigation Close, Murdishaw pleaded guilty by post in respect of her Year 8 daughters, Chelsea and Samantha. Between them they had only attended 72 days out of 256. Their mother said she had 'given them a good talking to'. She was fined £75 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Nicola Rigby of Chichester Close was convicted in her absence and fined £75 and ordered to pay £70 costs because her son, Karl, only attended 79 days.

Elizabeth Jones of Redruth Close was convicted in her absence and fined £75 and ordered to pay £70 costs, in respect of her daughter, Laura.

The prosecutions were brought under the education act by Halton Council at Halton Magistrates Court last week. One case was withdrawn and prosecutions against four other parents were adjourned. Last year's non-attendance figures for Halton High were 6.4 per cent unauthorised, compared to 2.2 per cent in Halton and 1.1 per cent nationally, according to the BBC.