A DAD who was fined £60 for taking his daughter on holiday when she should have been at school has refused to pay it and donated double the amount to charity instead.

Terry Vaile said he would 'go to prison' before paying the fine and has instead donated £120 towards a campaign for two new fridges at Barnsley Hospital's chemotherapy unit.

He said he had 'no choice' but to take his daughter Elise, 13, on holiday to Tenerife during term time because he cannot afford to take time away from his business during school holidays.

"I run my own taxi firm," said Terry, 39, of Woodland Drive, Barnsley.

"When you say you run your own business, people think you're well off, but I'm a one man band, and school holidays are my busiest time. I do airport runs and coastal trips."

He went into Horizon Community College to explain why he needed to take holidays in term time, but feels the school has shown 'no compassion'.

Horizon principal Nick Bowen said it was a policy across Barnsley to fine parents who took their children out of school without authorisation, and that the school sent out letters on behalf of the council.

He said: "Whilst we understand it is cheaper to take holidays outside of school holidays, some parents don't understand how hard it is to catch up."

** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated October 24. **