POLICE at Manchester Airport quizzed parents who allowed their children to skip school to join them on holiday.

Officers and education welfare teams were stopping families heading abroad yesterday in what is thought to be the first major truancy sweep at a British airport.

Youngsters who skipped school to visit shops and amusement arcades in departure lounges - or wave a relative goodbye - were also taken home.

No child with parents was barred from travelling. But families were warned to seek permission from headteachers before booking holidays during term time.

The pioneering scheme, introduced by education chiefs in Manchester and Trafford with support from Greater Manchester Police, was launched after complaints from schools.

Pupils were telling teachers that truants were travelling to the airport on trains and buses to spend the day browsing shops and spotting planes.

Schools also believed many pupils were flying on holidays with parents without informing headteachers and getting permission.

Yesterday's crackdown follows similar successful sweeps in Manchester city centre and the Trafford Centre.

Sue Toke, district manager for Manchester city council education welfare, said: ''We are running this in response to concerns from schools that children were visiting the airport for a day out or to see-off relatives, particularly on Fridays.

''We are also warning parents they need permission from headteachers to take their child away during school time.''

She added: ''We will evaluate the response from this first sweep before deciding how often we need to carry them out.''

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