DOZENS of youngsters who thought they could take early Christmas holidays were brought back down to earth during a truancy blitz.
Education officers and police quizzed school-aged kids in Manchester city centre - many accompanying their parents on shopping trips.
The team targeted busy shopping areas, including the Arndale shopping centre, over three days and stopped more than 160 children who appeared aged five or over.
Excuses for missing classes ranged from children being too sick or that holidays were just around the corner.
But those without a valid reason for being out of school were issued with written warnings and their schools were also informed.
Mums and dads caught letting their children out of school again each face fines of £50, rising to £100 if unpaid within a month.
The vast majority of youngsters stopped were with other family members. During Friday's blitz 43 out of 50 youngsters stopped were with a parent.
The truancy drives are part of the council's Respect Action week, which aims to stamp out anti-social behaviour during the holiday period.
Holidays start for most Manchester schools this Friday - but this may vary for schools in other council areas.
Council spokeswoman Pauline Newman said they wanted to reinforce the message that children needed to attend school right up to the last day of the school term.
Essential
She said: "By combating truancy we are underlining that attending school is absolutely essential to a child's future prospects.
"We realise that in the approach to the Christmas holiday there is a more relaxed atmosphere around us but being in school when you should be is a matter of being disciplined and responsible - a crucial lesson in itself."
Education bosses warned that there will be further sweeps in January and February.
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Meanwhile there are 25 gunmen still at large on the streets of Moss Side.
It's no wonder that they grow up Stupid.
Parents who do this shouldn't be fined,they face a prison sentence to serve as a warning that their child should attend right up to final day(I bet pounds to pence many fines don't get paid).
It does seem pointless that the police are being used on a truancy blitz. Are they not supposed to be tackling actual crime? It is a waste of taxpayers money - the schools KNOW who are off. They have registers that tell them that - if a parent keeps their kids off a lot then fair enough, then the school themselves can sort that out!
I seem to remember such a 'blitz' last year, the year before, .............
These 'blitzes' must be costing a lot of money. But how many parents have been fined?
Why on earth would these parents want to take kids shopping with them for Xmas presents - the parents needs fining, if the teachers wanted a day off for shopping and sent the kids home early the parents would be in uproar.