A STUDY is being carried out in the city to find out how having a child with a cleft lip affects their father.

The research is the work of Nicola Stock at the UWE Centre for Appearance Research.

Cleft lips or palates affect one in 700 babies a year in the UK and the diagnosis can have an emotional impact. Research has been carried out previously, but from a mother's perspective so it is hoped the latest research will stop fathers being left out.

As part of the project fathers will be able to share their experiences and to help inform support services for those affected by a cleft and their families, as well as future research.

Ms Stock said: "I have been working in the area of cleft for two years now, and have observed some fantastic support for mothers. But the support available for fathers seems very limited."

Contact Ms Stock through directly: Nicola2.Stock@uwe.ac.uk.