SECONDARY school children in Bolton skip more lessons than pupils elsewhere in Britain, according to new figures published by the Department for Education and Skills.

Statistics show that pupils in the borough missed an average of three-and-a-half school days in the 2005/06 academic year, down 0.3 per cent on the previous year.

The national and North-west average was two-and-a-half days.

The national figures show that nearly one million teenagers skipped school in 2005/06, figures which showed that truancy is far worse than previously thought. About 43,000 pupils were thought to be bunking off every day - 7,000 more than earlier figures suggested - and 984,300 pupils were playing truant some time in that school year.

In Bolton, schools fared better when it came to authorised absences, with children being given permission to miss 12 half-days, compared to a national and North-west average of 13 days. This was up by 0.25 per cent compared to the previous year.

According to figures, youngsters of mixed race or "other backgrounds" are more likely to be absent without approval than other children.

Children categorised as from mixed heritage were found to be the worst offenders, while youngsters from an Asian background were the least likely group to miss lessons.

Out of a total of 17,970 pupils, 1,395 were classed as persistent truancy offenders and have each missed an average of 60 days.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "The figures show that schools in Bolton are addressing unauthorised absences and listing them as such.

"It means education social workers can take appropriate action and speak to pupils and their families and offer help if needed.

"Over the last year or so, we have issued more than 300 penalty notices to parents.

"Schools are also being more challenging with parents over the reasons they are giving for children's absences and these measures are being reflected in improved attendance figures.

"In the 2005/06 autumn term in Bolton secondary schools, attendance was 91.7 per cent. Currently, it's 92.9 per cent, an increase of 1.2 per cent, an improvement which indicates that our measures are working."