Truancy police swoop on boy who took day off when his dog died

When Charlie Bowden's beloved dog died, the youngster was devastated.

After a tearful night, the 14-year-old's father decided his son was too upset to attend school that day and rang to explain why he would be absent.

Cliff Bowden was astonished when two truancy officers turned up at his home a few hours later and demanded Charlie go back to school.

Mr Bowden said that when the officers told his son to put his uniform on and go to school, he "didn't like their attitude" and asked them to leave.