The government has announced details of controversial new plans to fine the parents of persistent truants.

Education minister Ivan Lewis said parents had a responsibility to ensure their children attended school.

The new approach comes as the government seeks to create "parenting orders" through the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill which is currently before parliament.

Under the scheme parents will be issued with penalty notices for truancy and will have to pay up to £100.

In some cases they will be forced to sign a contract setting out their commitment to "secure their child's regular attendance at school".

The government says it wants to develop "more tools" to deal with anti-social and criminal children, truancy and "unacceptable behaviour" at school.

"Where parents are unable to fulfil their responsibilities, parenting contracts will provide them with the professional support they need and focus on what needs to be done to improve their child's attendance or behaviour," said Lewis.

"However, where parents are simply unwilling to fulfil their responsibilities, it must be right that society demands legal sanctions, and penalty notices for truancy and parenting orders for behaviour will provide due accountability."

Home Office minister Hazel Blears added that the measures would address the wider problems of anti-social behaviour.

"These new powers, which include parenting orders and contracts, are part of a package of measures in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill which will reinforce parental responsibility for school attendance and behaviour in and outside school," she said.

"We all have to play a part in tackling the anti-social behaviour that blights many of our communities and we all need to accept that our rights as citizens and parents come with responsibilities."

Lib Dem MP Phil Willis said the measure was simply the "latest gimmick" from ministers.

"Making criminals of truants and their families will do little to re-engage those children with education," he said.

"Every survey in the last 30 years has shown that the cause of truancy is the lack of student support and engaging lessons throughout the day.

"Britain desperately needs an education system that interests our young people.

"Fining parents and forcing students into schools where nothing changes is a recipe for further unrest in the classroom and adds to the burden of overworked teachers."