Parents in Bolton have been fined more than £30,000 in the space of eight months for not ensuring their child was in school.

Tameside Magistrates Court dealt with 92 cases with absences from May to December last year.

Bolton Council lowered the number of unauthorised days before a fine is brought from 10 to five which is in line with the national average.

Ten parents and guardians of children at Smithills School were fined 

The smallest fine given was £80 and eight parents were ordered to pay £440.

Eight parents at Bolton St Catherines Academy, Breightmet,  Essa Academy, Great Lever, and Harper Green School, Farnworth were fined.

Two parents of pupils at Harper Green School were given fines of £660 and the smallest fine was £120.

At Bolton St Catherines Academy two were fined £660 and the smallest fine was £80.

At Essa Academy fines ranged from £88 to £660 for the eight parents/guardians.

Six parents/guardians of pupils at  Gaskell Primary School, Halliwell were fined, with penalties ranging from from £80 to £440.

Ladybridge High School, Deane, also had five parents who were fined for their child's absences.

Fines given out to those involved ranged from £200 to £440.

In total £32,327 in fines were issued by the court for absentees.

Other schools  where parents were fined for their child's absence included Chorley New Road Primary School, Horwich; Highfield Primary School, Farnworth; St Stephen’s CE Primary School, Kearsley Eagley Infant School, Bromley Cross; St Matthews CE Primary School, Halliwell, Devonshire Road Primary School, Heaton; Bishop Bridgeman CE Primary School, Great Lever; Holy Infant School, Astley Bridge; Little Lever School; Lostock Primary School;  Thomasson Memorial School, Heaton; Bolton Parish Primary School, The Haulgh;The Kings Leadership Academy,  Great Lever; Mount St Joseph School, Farnorth; The Gates Primary School, Westhoughton; Rivington and Blackrod High School; St James CE Primary School; SS Osmund and Andrew Primary, Breightmet; SS Simon and Jude Primary School, Great Lever; and Egerton Primary School.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Regular school attendance is vital for children’s learning and development.

“Shortly before the pandemic, we lowered the threshold for issuing a penalty notice for unauthorised absences from 10 days to five, bringing us in line with the majority of other areas.

“Bolton has better attendance rates than the England average and of our statistical neighbours.

“We work constructively with schools and families to address attendance issues and fines are only used as a last resort.”