A FATHER fighting to get rights to contact his son was yesterday promised the personal help of one of Britain's top judges.

The father, who is in his 40s and lives in York, split from his partner of 22 years at the beginning of 2003.

She took their six-year-old son to live with her and her new partner in Holland, after being given permission to do so by a judge at York Crown Court earlier this year.

She also accused the father of sexually abusing the boy, claims which were investigated and quickly dropped.

The father, who has not seen his son for a year, wants his rights of contact decided in York, but a judge in Newcastle ruled last year that the matter should be dealt with in the boy's new country of residence.

The father, who cannot speak a word of Dutch, says he is being prejudiced by the decision, and that the allegations of abuse are being brought again in the Dutch court, despite him having been cleared once already.

Yesterday, he appeared at London's Court of Appeal to ask Lord Justice Thorpe and Lord Justice Dyson for permission to appeal against the order that his case be heard in Holland.

Lord Justice Thorpe refused his application, but did promise to personally contact the Family Court in Holland to speak on his behalf and help explain the difficulties he is facing.

The judge added: "I will independently endeavour to communicate the concerns in this jurisdiction that there be an expedited conclusion to the hearing of these allegations which, until determination, simply extend the interruption between father and child."