I have lived next door to a woman who had four different children by four different men, over a period of about ten years. She was on benefits but could always find money for cigarettes even while her children were underfed and clothed from jumble sales. Her babies had permanent nappy rash and the older children always had runny noses and cold sores.

The children were effectively left to their own devices for the majority of the time. TV was on permanently and there was no check on what was showing. A regular bedtime was non existent and hygiene -none whatsoever.

Social services made sporadic visits but these kids weren't in any real danger - just neglected - so nothing was done. Last I heard the oldest daughter was pregnant for the second time at 17 and one of the boys was already on probation. Rita was one of the worse that I knew but there were others in similar circumstances. My babysitter, the product of a single parent family, was pregnant at 16 and waiting to hear when she would get her flat.

Unless the cycle is broken in some way this problem will always be there. I'm not knocking - just stating a fact of life. There needs to be some sort of way of persuading these kids that there is a better way of life.