ANGRY fathers who cannot see their children are planning a campaign across the region to raise awareness of their plight.

Pressure group Fathers 4 Justice wants a change in the law to ensure that all parents and grandparents have access to children when a couple separates.

The North-East branch yesterday announced a year of protests to highlight the issue.

Paul Watson, branch leader, said: "We want to get the message across that there needs to be a change in the law."

On Monday, Mr Watson, 35, and two colleagues dressed as Batman, Superman and Spiderman for a protest on the Tyne Bridge, as part of a series of protests across the UK.

"Every child thinks their dad is a superhero, yet a hundred children a day have their father cut out of their lives," said Mr Watson.

"It was a good-humoured protest and we got a good reaction from people passing by."

He joined the group last year after a long battle to gain access to his daughters.

He said: "I went three and a half years without being able to see my girls. My ex-wife did not want me to see them and the courts would do nothing to enforce contact.

"Grandparents have the same problems when a couple split up.

"Last week, my kids spoke to my mother for the first time in four years."

The North-East branch of Fathers 4 Justice has more than 200 members, with more joining each week.

For details about the group, call (01787) 281922, or visit the www.fathers4justice.org website.