When Pauline Jacobs discovered how hard it was to meet a partner as a 30-year-old single mother, she decided to set up a different kind of dating agency.

Kids No Object provides a service in which children are very much part of the package.

Pauline came up with the idea when she realised children can be a major stumbling block to finding a new partner.

She said: "I couldn't seem to find anyone who was interested once they discovered I had a six-year-old son. Some were quite horrified."

Finally she did meet someone, Barry, to whom she has been happily married for 19 years.

When they moved to Eastergate, near Chichester, in 1986 former civil servant Pauline decided to start a business based on her own experiences.

She said: "I had a budget of £40. I put some adverts in newspapers from Brighton to Portsmouth and it just went mad. It has got bigger and bigger and now it's a monster."

Pauline has about 7,000 people on her books and they are spread across 15 counties from the south coast to the Midlands.

They are men and women from every walk of life but they all have one thing in common - children.

Pauline said: "An increasing number of men have custody of their children. For them it is important to meet someone who is an experienced mum.

"You are almost a package. Whether your children live with you or not, they are your responsibility. Without that understanding a relationship goes nowhere."

Pauline says her clients range from doctors to dustmen, plumbers to paediatricians, as well as full-time parents.

Ages range from 20 to 55 and the average client stays on the books for nine to 18 months.

There have been many successes - some marriages, some long-term partnerships, some babies.

"But we don't take any credit for their success. We are not making those relationships. All we do is give people the tools.

"Most of our members have had long-term relationships. The chances are they are going to be successful again.

"That is my own experience, too. Second time around I was more mature and more willing to compromise."

The agency does not try to match clients by interest and does not ask for photographs which Pauline regards as "unrepresentative."

She said : "We only match by general age range and area so people are not travelling too far.

"Members are sent the profiles of between 30 and 90 people. It is up to them to make contact."

Both sexes face particular problems.

Pauline said: "Ninety-nine per cent of women have custody of the children and find it difficult to get out and socialise.

"If they do, it is usually to the local pub or club with the girls and they don't meet the right sort of man.

"Men complain they can't find women at all. They may be beyond the nightclub stage or they say the women they come across in a nightclub are not suitable."

Stigmas that used to be attached to dating agencies no longer exist, said Pauline.

"It used to be thought if you joined a dating agency you had been left on the shelf. But now divorce is rife and thousands of people are on their own.

"When you have been in a long relationship most of your friends are married. Most people want another long-term partner but if you leave it to chance you can be on your own for a very long time."

Children are what bring the couples together and they worry about the effect a new relationship will have on them.

Pauline's advice is to take things slowly.

She said: "I think the best thing is not to introduce them too quickly. And when you do, a family outing is a lot less stressful than meeting at someone's house."

There are teething troubles. Teenagers are frequently jealous.

Pauline said: "Of course your children are very important but you are entitled to happiness and they must not rule your life."

One of the most difficult things is for people to "sell" themselves and not set their own expectations too high.

Pauline said: "Most people have an agenda for the type of person they want but some are too specific - 5ft 10in, 11 stone, blonde hair, blue eyes is unrealistic. Tall, medium build is better.

"Women, particularly, make lots of demands - professional, home-owner, good income and so on. The key is compromise because that is what good relationships are based on."

Joining Kids No Object costs £70. For more details call 0870 443 0233 or visit www.kno.org.uk