There's 'snow' hiding place...

West Sussex education welfare officers and Sussex Police carried out the county-wide sweep last Wednesday, visiting towns including Steyning, Shoreham and Lancing.

A total of 46 children were stopped (13 per cent with parents) and 27 children were returned to school. Youngsters who were stopped will now have their attendance at school monitored.

In Shoreham and Lancing, nine children were stopped. One was accompanied by a parent, and two were taken to school.

In Steyning, four were stopped, one was accompanied, and three were returned to their schools.

Inspector Russell Ternent, from the Sussex Police youth safety and intervention team, said: "I believe the snow that fell overnight played an important part in the results of this county-wide truancy sweep.

"A large proportion, 27 in total, were returned to school using police powers as they were found to be genuine truants, mostly giving the excuse that the snow had prevented them travelling to school.

"It must have been a big surprise for them to be picked up by the truancy patrols.

"The message is '“ you never know when our teams will be looking for you if you should be in school, so don't play truant."