SIXTEEN parents of children in East Sussex have been taken to court for failing to ensure their children regularly attend school.

The prosecutions came during the first month of a hard-hitting East Sussex County Council campaign urging parents to “get a grip” and ensure their child attends school every day.

In total, the parents were hit with £2,370 in fines and £3,300 in court costs after failing to pay fixed penalty notices for their child’s poor attendance.

The campaign, featuring slogans such as Don’t Be A Mug and Get A Grip is running throughout the current school year and features on bus stops, social media and radio adverts.

Councillor Bob Standley said: “We appreciate that this campaign has been controversial in some quarters but we won’t flinch from addressing this issue.”