A MEDIATION service is urging families to make use of its expertise on the eve of National Parents' Week, which starts on Monday.

The Cleveland Family Mediation Service, in Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, aims to use the campaign to highlight how it can help families get over divorce or separation.

Gillian Walker, from the service, said: "Divorce and separation are difficult for all concerned, but the Cleveland Family Mediation Service can help families in a variety of ways.

"We can provide information and guidance for parents on the difficult question of how to discuss the separation with their children.

"We can also provide mediation to help the family make decisions about the future such as where the children will live, and when and how they will see their parents."

She said mediation generally proved to be more effective, quicker and cheaper for couples than dealing with each other at arm's length through solicitors.

"It's usually far less draining on their emotions too, which can only be good for the children," she said.