HEADTEACHERS and council chiefs have said they are determined to slash truancy in areas worst-affected by stay-away pupils.

Figures released this week revealed that Education Secretary Ruth Kellys Bolton West constituency was among the 20 worst in the country for missed lessons.

Half of all pupils at the four secondary schools in the constituency missed at least one half-day session without authorisation in the past school year.

The schools are Rivington and Blackrod High School, Horwich; St Joseph's RC High School, Horwich; Westhoughton High School, and Ladybridge High School.

Council officers and headteachers today vowed to use their powers to get children into school - and said parents had a duty to ensure their attendance.

Ian Price, Bolton Council's chief education social worker, said truancy hit squads would be used to sweep the town centre for children who should be in school.

Mr Price said: "We have a range of options available to us for action and where necessary we will take the hard line."

In September, education bosses introduced a fines system, where parents whose children have recorded more than 20 unauthorised absences in one term face a £50 fixed penalty.

Parents can be brought before the courts and repeat offenders could face prison.

The worst school in Ms Kelly's constituency for missed lessons is Ladybridge High School, where 4.8 per cent of total half-day sessions were missed during the past 12 months.

The Bolton average is 1.9 per cent.

Ladybridge headteacher Jo Gabler said: "We don't wash our hands of the problems but there's only so much we can do when there is a persistent problem.

"Everyone involved with a child, including the parents, has a duty to get them into school."

At Westhoughton High School, the percentage of missed half-day sessions at the school has increased from 0.7 per cent to 4.1 per cent in ten years.

The council has now earmarked the school for special attention.

Westhoughton headmaster Brendan Loughran said: "We have an attendance administrative clerk and as a school employ our own education social worker.

"Although we are only half way through the first term, attendance figures have improved."

The same scheme is applied to other schools across the borough where truancy has risen, said Mr Price.

A total of 0.8 per cent of half-days were lost to unauthorised absences at Rivington and Blackrod High School.

Headteacher Tony Purcell was unavailable for comment.

Leo Conley, headteacher of St Josephs RC School, Horwich, where 0.4 per cent of half days were lost to unauthorised absences last year, refused to comment.