Thousands of fathers will be alone this Christmas because they will be spending the festive season without seeing their children.

In most cases when couples part, the woman takes control of the children and usually a reasonable arrangement is reached over access.

But in a significant minority of cases, fathers are kept from seeing their youngsters at Christmas or at any other time.

There are some violent men who should be banned from seeing their children at all costs but they are small in number.

In most break ups, whatever the cause, the fathers have a right to see their children even if they are not the main carers.

Organisations such as Fathers 4Justice have been set up to put this point to judges and those responsible for enforcing orders.

Children often come back to absent parents in the end - but precious years have been lost on the way.