POLICE are joining forces with education chiefs in a crackdown on truants.

Sacriston and Pelton, and the main shopping areas of Chester-le-Street, will be designated truancy-free action zones from Friday.

The zones will be flooded with posters, leaflets and stickers to make adults and young people aware of the crackdown.

Parents will also be warned they could face fines under anti-social behaviour rules if school attendance is poor.

Local businesses, community groups and other organisations are working with Durham County Council's education welfare service and police to make their premises part of the zones.

Chester-le-Street beat sergeant John Stephenson said: "We are fully behind the initiative and will be carrying out regular operations with the education welfare service over the coming months.

"Our joint aim is to ensure young people are at school and not out on the streets, where they are potentially vulnerable and at risk of being caught up in anti-social behaviour or minor crime."

Sgt Stephenson said the operations would include truancy sweeps in the designated areas by education welfare officers, police community support officers and Special Constables.

Pupils found by themselves will be returned to their schools or to parents.

Shopkeepers and businesses in the zones will also be given packs to record and report truants.

These reports will be followed up and school registers will be checked to gauge pupils' attendance.

The county council's cabinet member for education, Councillor Neil Foster, said: "Regular school attendance is extremely important to ensure that young people fulfil their potential. But it's equally important to keep young people safe and reduce the risk of them causing a nuisance in the community when they should be in school.

"By supporting this initiative, the local community can play a huge part in helping young people make the most of their education, while at the same time, keeping the community safe for everyone."

This is the second truancy-free action zone to be launched in the county.

The first was successful in Derwentside in November last year.