A rapid response team has been set up in Derby following a sharp rise in the number of truancy prosecutions.

The team is made up of police officers and council workers.

It will respond to reports of children spotted outside school during school hours.

Figures released last week showed 29 parents had been prosecuted already this term by Derby City Council, compared with 32 for the whole of the previous academic year.

Police back-up

Adele Jones, an education welfare officer with the council, said part of the reason for the rise is that cases were being fast tracked through the courts.

But she also said the rise had been because of a "more targeted approach" to truancy and said the new team would help.

"It consists of us having a mobile phone number available for everybody in the community that sees children out and about.

"They can contact us and we will respond to these children and we will return them to a place of safety, normally school."

An officer from Derbyshire Police is also being delegated to deal with truants and will work alongside the council teams.