TWO mums have been issued with whopping court bills for failing to ensure their children attend school.

The cases were heard at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Monday, January 22, where the defendants, who are both from Quedgeley, were ordered to pay more than £850 each.

The first mum failed to ensure that a boy aged 14 attended school between May 11 and May 20 last year.

In the second case, the mum failed to ensure that a child aged 14 attended the same school between May 9 and May 23 last year.

Magistrates proved both cases in the absence of the defendants and imposed the following penalty in each case - a £440 fine, a £176 surcharge and £250 costs - meaning both mums must pay a total of £866 each.

In another case, a mum from Ebley, Stroud has been charged after her son also aged 14 failed to attend the same school between May 11 and May 20 last year.

The case was heard on Monday at the same court and was adjourned until February 5 at the request of the prosecution for a review of the case.

All three prosecutions were brought under the Education Act 1996 after information was provided by Gloucestershire County Council.