SIR - What a surprise the headlines Shock truancy figures' (T&A, September 22) were.

Who, pray tell, was shocked, because believe me, the only thing I was shocked about was that we were ranked third.

But then, as always Bradford seem to be under-achievers in any educational statistics.

Seriously, it comes as no surprise to me, or any other person who works in the centre of Bradford. You only need to walk through Bradford to see the number of truants frequenting the city centre.

Why can't the community patrol officers, who seem to be blind to the litter droppers, spitters, anti-social drinkers and other unsavoury characters wandering around the city centre through the day, be stopping these truants?

If they aren't visiting their parole officer or with their parents, they should be taken back to the school or their parents. Because they should be at school.

Dean Loynes, Westgate, Bradford