`My wife had a serious drinking problem. After the born-again Christians dropped her she went back on to it. I had to say to her either she got out of the house or I was going."

Michael (40) married when he was 19. "I was expecting a big fight when I went into court for custody of our three children," he says. "But my wife just said to the judge: `give them to their father'."

Michael was better equipped to take on four small children, the oldest of whom was 10, than most fathers might have been. When he was 13 his mother died, leaving six younger brothers and sisters.

"I was well used to changing nappies, shopping, washing and tidying up after kids. I've worked on freezing cold days in the sleet on building sites but it's not nearly as hard as taking care of children," he emphasises, echoing oft-repeated words of many a mother-in-the-home.

He talks of the paucity of real childcare facilities which prevented him from taking full-time employment. The difficulty he expresses of finding a partner willing to take on four children will sound over-familiar to single or separated mothers.

"The isolation is probably worse in the man's case," proposes Michael. "I can't pop in next door to have a cup of tea because it usually means it's with another man's wife. Men also leave all the domestic duties to their wives.

"I discovered the corporation house we were living in was in her name. After a year, she decided she was moving back into it with her new partner. The corporation said they could do nothing about it. I sat there and wouldn't move until they did."

Michael's wife left him and their children six years ago. Up until last year, she rarely turned up for her access appointments. It caused a lot of bitterness in the children.

"She wants to increase her access and custody rights. The children don't want it. I've told them I don't mind but they insist that's how they feel."