Sweep on Metro nets 100 truants

Regular operations are held to find pupils skipping lessons

Dozens of pupils skipping school across Tyne and Wear were caught during an anti-truancy blitz.

Metro operator Nexus joined forces with the area's five education authorities and Northumbria Police to run the operation on Thursday.

Teams patrolling the Metro system and stations found more than 100 truants from across the area.

It was the latest in a regular series of sweeps held across the network to tackle the problem of truancy.

Five education welfare officers from Newcastle, together with police, held barrier checks at city centre stations.

Nexus schools and community liaison officer Alison Tombling said: "These partnership operations are invaluable in helping us catch those children who are truanting."