SEVERAL parents have been hit with fines of up to £440 after their children failed to attend primary and high schools in the county.

Wrexham Magistrates, who expressed dismay at some of the children's attendence records, dealt with three sets of parents over continued absences from schools.

One couple told how numerous financial and personal issues led to their child being absent from primary school.

The girl had 78 unauthorised absences from her school from September 4 last year to February 3.

Louise Edwards, prosecuting on behalf of Wrexham Council, told how home visits had been made and several letters sent requesting an explanation, outlining available assistance and warning of possible further action - but the absences continued.

They also failed to attend a scheduled meeting.

Both parents pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the child attended school regularly. The girl's father told magistrates that the couple's lives had been falling apart, which led to the child's absences.

He claimed that every time they "went to school or anywhere else," they received no help.

But he added that the girl's attendance had since improved.

The mother added that they had not being able to pay phone bills meant they sometimes could not contact the school.

The couple were fined £50 each, and must both pay the same amount in costs, along with a £30 surcharge.

A 12 month parenting order was also imposed.

Magistrates chairman Hilary Wiseman told them that the bench had some sympathy for them but added: "Your little girl needs to go to school and she needs to go every day - and we're quite dismayed at the attendance record."

The parents of another schoolgirl both faced hefty fines due to her poor attendance.

Magistrates in Wrexham yesterday fined the couple £440 each after their daughter has 35 unauthorised absences from Wrexham county borough high school between September 4 and February 10.

The couple must both also pay £175 each in costs and £44 each in surcharges.

After imposing the fines and costs, bench chairman Hilary Wiseman said that magistrates might have been swayed by an argument had the parents attended.

Another pair faced magistrates after failing to ensure their daughter attended school.

The teenager had 35 unauthorised absences between September 4 last year and February 3

Magistrates heard that girl would sometimes not attend school before health appointments, even though she had been told to do so.

Miss Edwards said that several letters were sent to the parents, and two meetings were held.

The father said in one meeting that he sometimes kept his daughter home to help with shopping and taking the other children to school.

The parents pleaded guilty to failing to ensure their child attended school regularly.

The father told magistrates while he told his daughter she had to attend school before attending appointments, the girl claimed that the service told her she could have the whole day off.

He admitted that he should not have kept her off on the other days, but she sometimes had bad days it was "difficult to get her moving".

He did not attend the other meeting due to confusion over the time, the court heard.

The man insisted that his daughter would attend school from now on.

Miss Wiseman told them, that while it can be difficult getting teenagers to school and that many parents would sympathise, it was their duty to ensure their daughter attended.

A parenting order for 12 months was imposed and the pair must each pay £50 in costs and a £30 surcharge.

They were also both fined £50.