Twelve Keighley parents have been prosecuted in a truancy clampdown, the Keighley News can reveal.

Court cases were brought because the adults failed to ensure their children attended school.

Bradford council has instigated the proceedings over the past 10 months as part of an on-going effort to combat truancy at the district's schools.

In the latest case, a Keighley father was fined £100 by magistrates and was ordered to pay £75 in costs to the local authority. We are withholding his name to protect the identity of his child.

Education bosses warn that measures - including court action where necessary - will be maintained in a bid to stamp out the problem. Magistrates can impose conditional discharges or fines of up to £1,000.

Earlier this year as part of a pilot project - staged by the local authority in addition to the on-going campaign - parents were told about their legal responsibilities and were advised of the possible consequences if their children's attendance levels were not maintained.

Council attendance co-ordinator Madalene Lock says: "Youngsters fail to turn up for school for a whole range of reasons. Unfortunately, in a number of cases parents are aware that their son or daughter is missing lessons but they do little or nothing about it.

"There is a lot of support available through schools and the education directorate if parents are willing to work with us, but we do come across some families who show no real interest in encouraging their child to go to school regularly.

"Ultimately it is the parents' legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school, and if our attempts to work with them to improve attendance fail, we do have the option of prosecuting them in court.

"This is not something we do lightly, but evidence shows that legal action can be an effective way of improving attendance, because it makes parents realise the importance of giving children the education they need and deserve - and the important part they have to play in ensuring they get it."