Four sets of parents from Carmarthenshire have been punished over their children’s poor school attendance.

If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly, his or her parent is guilty of an offence.

The separate prosecutions, heard at Llanelli Magistrates Court, have been led by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The parents cannot be named for legal reasons.

One couple, who pleaded guilty by post, were fined £20 each and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge. They were not ordered to pay any costs for means reasons.

Another couple pleaded guilty in court and were each fined £35 and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge. They were not ordered to pay any costs for means reasons.

The third couple were fined £300 in total and ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge each and £68 costs each.

A fourth couple were fined in their absence and were fined £660 each, together with £66 victim surcharge and £68 costs.

The council’s executive board member for education, Cllr Glynog Davies said: “It is the duty of every parent or guardian to ensure their child attends school and gets an education. We, as an authority, do our very best to try and support families in difficulty and going to court is always a last resort.”