EDUCATION welfare officers and the police stopped dozens of youngsters during a truancy sweep in Darlington this week.
The initiative was the latest in a series of sweeps carried out by Darlington Borough Council, with the support of the police, to crack down on children skipping school.
Forty-six youngsters - 25 of primary school age and 21 secondary school age - were stopped during school hours, with 32 of them being accompanied by adults.
Reasons given for absence included sickness, medical appointments and study leave.
Three pupils were found to be truanting and further action will be taken to warn their families of the importance of their children going to school.
Chris McEwan, cabinet member for children's services, said: "It is vitally important that families understand that their children's education will suffer if they play truant."
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