PUPILS missing school to get Christmas shopping done could be in for a shock.

A truancy trawl in the east of Middlesbrough is homing in on well-known hot-spots such as the town centre and out-of-town shopping centres.

Middlesbrough councillor Paul Thompson joined the operation to see the work of education social workers and the police in dealing with unauthorised absences.

He said: "People who do not ensure their children get to school safely, or let them stay off for no valid reason, are really short-changing them, depriving them of the chance to do well and get the knowledge and qualifications they will need in later life.

"There will be no let-up in the weeks before Christmas.

"In fact, we are going to be extra vigilant -and people better know straight away that doing the Christmas shopping is not a valid excuse."

Unaccompanied children will be returned to their schools, and those with their parents will have to explain why they are not at school.