In three months, 35 prosecutions have been brought against parents whose children played truant form school.

East Sussex County Council is continuing its drive to prosecute parents who refuse to tackle truancy and fail to work with the council to resolve the problem.

A prosecution could result in a fine or a prison sentence.

The cases were held at magistrates' courts in Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings, resulting in fines of almost £4,000 with more than £3,500 in costs.

In Eastbourne, 16 cases were heard by magistrates, resulting in a total of £2,009 in fines and £2,040 in costs.

At Lewes Magistrates' Court four prosecutions led to fines totalling £210 and costs of £390.

In one case, a parent whose daughter had only attended 61% of classes between June and November last year was given a conditional discharge with £120 costs.

Fines totalling £1,715 with £1,140 in costs were given to parents in 15 cases brought before Hastings magistrates.

One parent whose son had failed to attend school between September 2008 and January 2009, was fined £525 with £120 costs.

Education Welfare Officers support, help and advise parents if they are having difficulty with their child's school attendance.