PARENTS of children skipping school have been slammed by the courts.

Two mums and two dads were fined a total of £700 for prolific truancy by their children.

But only one of the four accused turned up to hear their punishment at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The mother of one 15-year-old boy, from Oakwood, who previously pleaded guilty was sentenced to a parenting order and a penalty of £100.

Her husband, who was not present, will be sentenced on August 22.

The court heard their son has missed 96 of 108 days at school between February and June.

Prosecuting solicitor Lili Patterson, acting on behalf of Warrington Borough Council, said: "His parents did not attend discussions in April and despite other strategies the situation has not improved."

The parenting order means both adults will be forced to attend an 11-week parental counselling course plus supervision for nine months.

Defence solicitor Dave Blizzard said: "She (the mother) has dropped him off at school but he leaves via the back door."

The mum and dad of two sisters, aged 15 and 13, and their brother, aged seven, were sentenced for truancy charges but failed to attend.

The boy had attended only 41 times out of 116 academic days in the last year. All were unauthorised.

During the case, both parents were slapped with a £100 fine for each child adding to other court arrears of almost £1,000.

Magistrates also reprimanded the absent couple from Orford who had ignored all court papers concerning the youngster's truancy.

We are prevented from naming any of the children or parents for legal reasons.

beckykelly@guardiangrp.co.uk