Estranged [UK] fathers will be allowed increased access to their children under new legislation to be announced this week.

A Green Paper will propose changes to the family court system that will include the suggestion that both parents are allowed “frequent and continuous contact” with their children.

“We recognise that there are a number of real difficulties with the current system,” said a spokeswoman at the Department for Constitutional Affairs. “[There are] too many cases where the child’s interests are not seen to be central, too many cases that go on for too long, too many cases where there are problems enforcing court decisions. The Government is looking at ways to help in cases of relationship breakdown.”