Nexus says it is concerned about the safety of youngsters

A total of 194 youngsters have been caught playing truant on the Metro system during a crackdown on Thursday.

Police officers were challenging truanting pupils on the Tyne and Wear Metro in a campaign across the transport system.

The campaign was organised by the region's educational welfare officers and Northumbria Police.

Police and education workers were targeting truanting pupils hanging around the light rail system, either on trains or at stations.

On North Tyneside 44 youngsters were found, 21 were accompanied by adults and 23 were on their own.

In Gateshead 12 children were discovered, six with adults and six on the system by themselves.

Barrier checks

A total of 55 were found on the system in Newcstle, of which 14 were accompanied by adults, while 41 were on their own.

And is South Tyneside 24 youngsters were away from school, 11 with adults, and 13 unaccompanied.

On the Sunderland and Wearside section of the system there were 55 children playing truant, 14 were with adults, and 41 were by themselves.

The campaign was the latest stage of a campaign to prevent youngsters skipping school and potentially getting themselves into trouble or even danger.

Transport chiefs at Metro operator Nexus said their primary concern was for the safety of children who skip school then hang around the Metro system.

Some members of the team toured the Metro network, while their colleagues concentrated on stations.

Barrier checks were also place at Monument Metro Station during the day.