Schoolchildren in Somerset are to be rewarded with tickets to discounted paintball events if they behave well, it has been revealed. 

Somerset Police will be taking children that stay out of trouble in coaches to the outdoor fun days as part of a new anti-truancy scheme.

Those involved in antisocial behaviour will be taken off the scheme.

Sergeant Stuart Bell explained that the new Taunton Youth Paintball Project will complement other measures, including putting up truancy awareness notices.

He told the BBC: “Antisocial behaviour incidents involving young people coincided with the parents believing they were elsewhere.

“The paint-balling course teaches the youths about leadership, team work and the importance of sticking to the rules – whilst having a lot of fun at the same time,” he added.

Police are hoping that the new scheme will encourage parents to get involved and cooperate with authorities to combat truancy, which will in turn reduce the incidence of antisocial behaviour.