A mother is being taken to court to explain why her child has not been to school for months.

Despite a previous conviction against the mother for failing to ensure her child's attendance, the youngster has continued to play truant.

The mother has already been fined £150 but this second prosecution carries much stiffer penalties, a maximum fine of £2,500 and/or three months in jail.

The mother was arrested and bailed at her Brighton home yesterday as Brighton and Hove City Council officials and police launched a joint crackdown.

Another woman was arrested and bailed and she too has been ordered to court for a second offence.

Police accompanied city education welfare officers as they called at the mothers' homes yesterday.

Sergeant Steve Curry said making sure all children attended school helped them fight crime and reduce the fear of crime.

Council solicitor Len Batten said there were up to 100 children currently failing to attend school on a regular basis.

In the most serious cases, he said parents have refused entry to education officers who called at their homes and one recently failed to attend a court hearing.

He said: "Taking parents to court is the last resort. It is their children who are the victims and we are determined that they do not grow up illiterate and disadvantaged.

"We do not proceed with prosecutions lightly and if parents co-operate then we can offer considerable support to them."