THERE were 460 fines issued to parents taking their children out of school in term time in Barnsley last year.

The figures for all councils were revealed to the BBC under the Freedom of Information act, although the total cost to Barnsley parents was not disclosed - across England and Wales the cost was £24m.

Barnsley’s total equates to 13.9 fines per 1,000 pupils - slightly above the national average of 12.

However Barnsley ranks fourth lowest in Yorkshire and the Humber. Only Rotherham, York and North Yorkshire councils issued fewer fines per head across the region.