FOR one mother the endless days of washing, tidying and cooking for her grown-up son became too much and she decided it was time for her to fly the nest.

Now Janet Mitchell lives happily in her own one-bedroom flat in North Yorkshire, while her son Matthew Cox rents the four-bedroom family home from her.

This role reversal may seem rather extreme, but Ms Mitchell is one of many parents willing to make the sacrifice for their grown-up children.

According to research from Skipton Building Society, adults are spending thousands of pounds on their children to help them take their first step onto the property ladder.

"After I graduated from Newcastle University in June 2000 I was in a lot of debt and missing the creature comforts from home," said 24-year-old Matthew.

"I moved back with mum and she did everything for me for just £50 in rent. There was no chance I could have moved out and paid the deposit for a place of my own.

"But I was starting to get under mum's feet and she needed her own space and freedom. So when a nice, small flat came onto the market she decided to move out and I now rent the family home in Skipton from her."

The society's poll of 534-parents with grown-up children nationwide, found that parents are paying on average £8,000 to help their off-spring move out.

Jennifer Holloway, head of media relations at the Skipton, said: "Rising house prices mean that many young people can't afford to leave the family home."

Almost half of the parents in the North-East said they have given their children sizeable amounts of cash. One in five said they had forgone their annual holiday to do so and 17 per cent took out a personal loan to help