TRUANTS in Hyndburn face being plucked off the streets and returned to the classroom after the council became the first in Lancashire to adopt a scheme pioneered in Blackburn and praised by Jack Straw.

Police will accompany officials from the education welfare service on tours around Hyndburn, hunting down youngsters who should be in school.

Offending children will then be returned to school, as is allowed under Section 16 of the new Crime and Disorder Bill.

The parents of youngsters caught out of school face being taken to court. It is the first time a Lancashire County Council district has been targeted for the campaign, which was pioneered before the summer holidays in Blackburn, with impressive results.

In just two days in July, the police stopped 150 youngsters they believed should have been in school. Those not accompanied by a parent or guardian were returned to school. Inspector Dale Allen said: "We hope this action sends a clear message to the children, parents and schools that truancy is not acceptable behaviour in Hyndburn.

"While some parents may be aware their children at truanting, others are not and can't be confident their children are staying out of trouble.

"Tackling truancy is an important issue for everyone involved.

"Invoking Section 16 has taken a lot of planning and this initiative has the backing of headteachers involved."

Following the success of the scheme in Blackburn, Home Secretary Jack Straw demanded it be rolled out across the country.

Alan Hazell, one of Lancashire County Council's education welfare officers said: "Education welfare officer will continue to work with the police to use the new power given to us. We want to send a clear signal that truancy and parentally-condoned absence from school are unacceptable."

County Coun Jean Battle, who sits on the Hyndburn Crime and Disorder Steering Group, said: "Most of the young people in Accrington town centre are there for perfectly good reasons and are well behaved.

"There is a small minority, however, who cause problems which result in all youngsters being tarred with the same negative brush. That minority need to be sorted out."