Parents break law to let children watch matches

Thousands of parents have broken the law by removing their children from school to watch England matches.

Many families have taken their children away for up to three weeks unauthorised absence during one of the most critical periods in the school calendar.

They have flouted tough new anti-truancy laws designed to tackle an " epidemic" of term-time absences, and could face heavy fines or even imprisonment on the pupils' return.

Some children have been granted permission to attend the tournament after pleading "special circumstances", but education experts have warned that even an authorised 10-day absence could significantly harm a pupil's progress.

One parent, Brian Wright, 34, admitted removing his daughters Alex, seven, and Estella, four, from school for the three weeks of the tournament. "The oldest has just done her SATS tests and the youngest is only at nursery - what harm can it do? Alex has brought some homework with her and she has been reading a lot here.

"It has been great for her - she has met lots of other kids also out here for the tournament. The teacher was really good about it - there was no problem."

Shane Coldron, 31, a builder, paid ?1,300 to bring his six-year-old son Alfie and 14-year-old daughter Charlie to Lisbon for two weeks. "It was a really good deal and worth doing. This is an educational experience for them," he said.

Andy Hague, 39, said he had not "thought twice" about travelling to Euro 2004 with his son Jack, seven.

"He is one of the brightest lads in his class so I did not think it would harm his education. It is the last few weeks of term back home and they are always a wind-down," he said.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Work said: "We take a very strong line against this. Parents who are caught taking their children out of school without a valid reason face [?100] fines and potentially a prison sentence."