Two parents have been fined £1,357 after their two children failed to attend school regularly.

Hertfordshire County Council took the matter at Leavesden Green JMI School to St Albans Magistrates’ Court after they failed to turn up regularly between January 30 and March 10 this year.

Two offences, one for each child, were proved in the absence of the nine and six-year-old's parents, who are from Watford, and the magistrates' court handed out £440 fines for both as well as a single £352 surcharge and £125 in costs.

It was ordered that the money had to be paid by October 25.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: “It’s important that children do not miss school unnecessarily, and we work closely with the schools we manage to help them with absence management.

Watford Observer: The two children failed to attend Leavesden Green JMI School.The two children failed to attend Leavesden Green JMI School. (Image: PA)

“Our priority is to work with schools, children and their families to understand what the issues are and how we can overcome them to improve a child’s attendance at school.

“However, where there are persistent problems, we sometimes have to report this to the courts so that magistrates can decide whether other action, such as a fine, would be appropriate.”