Wem mother won't be fined for taking her son to wedding

Clare Whitelegg, 30, will not be penalised for taking her nine-year-old son Riley Bryant out of school to witness her tying the knot with fiancé Andy McLeary, 37, today.

The bride wrote to Clive Church of England School, near Wem, asking for permission to let Riley miss three days this week.

But the school refused, claiming the wedding failed to fulfil the criteria of "exceptional circumstances" necessary to legitimately take children out of class in term time.

The couple, feared they faced criminal prosecution by taking Riley out of school so he can watch them get married in Clare's hometown of Newquay, Cornwall.

But today Shropshire Council said it would not fine the newly weds as Riley had not missed 10 half days in a year.

Clare said she had had no intention of paying the paying the fine and had even been prepared to go to prison.

She said: "It's absolutely bonkers that the school have banned my son from attending my wedding.

"The fact is that if I had went along with the school's ruling then there would be no wedding because I can't leave a nine-year-old home alone for three days.

"Andy and I both work full time and this is the only time we could get off work. Riley is an excellent pupil and has only had time off before because he got shingles.

"I was fully prepared to go to court and I would have refused to pay any fine. The court fines each parent who is responsible for the child so that could be me, Andy and Riley's dad.

"If that is £60 then you're looking at a final bill of £540 for the three days he would be off school which is ridiculous.

"If it would have meant going to prison then so be it."

If parents fail to ensure their children attend school, they may be issued with penalty notices of £50 to £100.

Prosecution can result in a fine of up to £2,500, a jail sentence of up to three months or a community sentence.