Education bosses in Shropshire are holding a music competition in a bid to get truants back into school.

Officials say that although attendance rates are among the best in the country, there are still youngsters who are regularly absent.

They hope the competition, which will be staged during national School Attendance Week in October, will promote a “feel-good” factor about school life and help further reduce truancy levels.

Primary school pupils are being asked to create a jingle while secondary students are being asked to compose a song.

The winning entries will be played on BBC Radio Shropshire throughout School Attendance Week, which begins on October 11.

First prize in the competition will be a visit to a recording studio to record material to a professional standard.

Aggie Caesar-Homden, council cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “We are keen to hear songs that promote a feel-good factor about all aspects of school life and will motivate young people to attend school on a regular basis. Whilst school attendance rates are excellent in the county, there are some children with less than average attendance.

Roadshows will also visit children’s centres across the county.