Proposals to grant grandparents legal rights to maintain contact with grandchildren after family breakdown are welcome.

Grandparents play an increasingly important role when so many couples both work.

But if divorce or separation happens, they can be quickly ostracised.

So often it is the father’s parents who find themselves in the wilderness, regardless of the harrowing effect this has on the grandchildren.

All they know is that the gran and grandad who have surrounded them with love have apparently abandoned them.

The government report which includes proposals to enshrine in law greater access for grandparents will hopefully prevent innocent children suffering because of selfish parental bitterness.

Paul Nuttall, MEP, UK Independence Party.