PARENTS in Hartlepool are being warned they risk incurring stiff financial penalties if their children do not attend school.

The warning has been issued following the Government's recent introduction of a maximum £2,500 fine, and up to three months' imprisonment in serious cases, where parents know that their children are playing truant, but fail to take any action.

Education chiefs in Hartlepool have stressed they will work with families to try to resolve any problems, but they will prosecute if there is no improvement from persistent truants.

Hartlepool Borough Council's director of Education Jeremy Fitt said: "We are committed to providing the best possible education for the town's young people, but to do that we must get them into the classroom.

"We already run a number of initiatives, which have helped to reduce truancy levels across the town, but we will not hesitate to take legal action against parents who refuse to accept their responsibilities."

The new tougher powers also allow magistrates to order people to attend court so that the seriousness of their offences can be emphasised.