A MOTHER who had failed to attend court after the non-attendance of her children at school was arrested and brought before Bury magistrates.

Sharon Hughes, of York Street, Bury, failed to attend a hearing date after earlier pleading not guilty to two offences relating to the non-attendance of her children, aged 12 and 14, at St Gabriel's RC High School between February and May.

The elder boy attended on only two of a possible 100 occasions and his brother attended just three times.

Hughes, who was convicted on both counts, was given an 18 month Community Rehabilitation Order.

After the case, Bury Metro's head of education welfare, Alan Cogswell, said: "The magistrates have made it clear that parents will be made to face up to their responsibilities."

If that means issuing warrants and having individuals arrested, the courts have shown they are prepared to do just that."