A Derbyshire couple have been fined for allowing their children to play truant from school.

Patrick and Maria Doran have been told by Derby Magistrates to pay �1,500 for not making their five children go to school.

After the verdict, education leaders in the city said they would keep up their get tough approach with parents who allow truancy.

Since September the city council has already prosecuted more people than it did during the whole of the previous academic year.

We are going to get tough and we are going to stay tough

Councillor Chris Wynn

Councillor Chris Wynn, in charge of education, said parental irresponsibility would not be tolerated.

He said the �1,500 fine was the biggest that had been made in the city.

"Despite all the efforts of the educational welfare service, the parents were just not sending their children to school and the magistrates came down heavily on them.

"I hope it sends out the message that wilfully failing to send their children to school is a form of child neglect. It is robbing them of a future."

He said the couple had refused to allow welfare officers to take the children to school.

"I have no sympathy with parents who wilfully neglect their children's education.

"We are cracking down, we are going to get tough and we are going to stay tough."