PATROLS swept the streets of Bishop Auckland yesterday in a search for truants.

One grandmother was stopped and questioned in a high-street amusement arcade as her 13-year-old grandson stood waiting outside during yesterday's crackdown on truancy.

The woman was one of the dozen adults stopped in yesterday's sweep as part of efforts to get children back into school.

The woman, in Royals' Amusements on Newgate Street, was told to take her grandchild home by police and an education officer taking part in the county-wide clampdown on truants and their parents.

Mary Waine, education and welfare team leader said: "The grandmother said the child was ill and couldn't be at school. But if he was ill, why is he not at home?

"We will be writing to his parents to see whether they knew about this."

In a bid to slash the number of young truants across the county, police and education officers are patrolling town centres to find children who are skipping school.

In yesterday's sweep, 13 children were stopped and questioned, eight of whom were with parents.

One mother, out with her daughter, aged six, and her son, aged ten, said they were too unwell to attend school - but was warned she could be fined £50.

Ms Waine said: "We check everybody out by taking the details of their doctor and contacting them to confirm the appointment.

"If we find it isn't true, we will put their name on a database, and next time they are caught they will be fined."

One family thought the patrols a good idea, despite being stopped with their 13-year-old son.

Dawn Wardle, 34, of Cockfield, whose son attends Staindrop Comprehensive School - which was closed for the day due to the snow - said: "We don't really want children hanging round the streets, so I think this is a good thing and it's no good for them to miss school."