I read in the Daily Echo about Michael Cox, who refused to pay the full amount of child maintenance.

I see my children every day. I work nights, so I am able to do the school run. I give them tea every day and take them home about 6.30pm. Two nights a week stay that with me until 8.30pm and they sleep over every other weekend.

I pay maintance which my ex-wife and I agreed when we got divorced. The Child Support Agency is not involved.

I went to the council to apply for housing benefit (private renting is expensive), only to be told I earn too much. I appealed and found that out of my bills and outgoings my payment of around £400 a month maintenance does not get taking into consideration.

I pointed out that if I were not a good father and did not pay maintenance I would not need housing benefit. This is a case of being penalised for doing the right thing as a dad.

Perhaps you now understand why single fathers get frustrated.

Maybe we should all stop paying and go to prison but then who suffers? The kids..

PETE WHEELER, Woolston, Southampton.