THIS week is Parents Week and one when Home Secretary, David Blunkett has announced details of a £300,000 boost to help young dads bond with their children.

Earlier this week the BEN ran a story on the position of those fathers who have to leave the family home for whatever reason, and we revealed that an unmarried father -- even if his name appears on his child's birth certificate -- has no legal responsibility for them.

However, a situation like that can also affect grandparents, too.

Here, a Farnworth grandmother tells her heartbreaking story.

She saw her two grandchildren almost every day for the past five years and they spent every Christmas Day with her, her son (their father) and the rest of the family.

Since February her only sightings of them have been the odd glimpse in the town centre.

Here, she talks to Karen Stephen.

All names have been changed to protect identities.

"ALL I have now are the photographs. And I look at them every single day."

Joanne is a 49-year-old grandma from the Bolton area. Last November, her 29-year-old son, Peter split from his girlfriend after six years.

"He found out she'd been seeing someone else," says Joanne, "and they split up because of it."

She admits her son caused some damage to his former partner's property after discovering she had been unfaithful.

"He was devastated," says Joanne, "and he ended up damaging a piece of furniture of hers. It was wrong and he knew it."

And as a result his girlfriend told him he could never see his children again. "And she turned to me," says Joanne, "and said 'you're their grandma, but you will never see them again either'.

"I honestly thought she'd calm down," admits Joanne. "But she certainly didn't and she has stuck by her word.

"I last saw my grandchildren in February of this year. She allowed me to see them for a day. But when it came for them to go home they were both really upset and distressed. They wanted to stay.

"Me and my son used to pick them up from nursery almost every day and they used to sleep at my house at weekends. They spent every Christmas Day with us, apart from last year of course.

"Because, at the time, we could only see them on a Saturday, we had our Christmas Day on December 30. I wore a Santa suit as usual and after lunch we all went sledging. They really enjoyed it.

"But that won't be happening this Christmas.

"My son used to go to the house and beg his partner to let him see the kids. But all she would do was bring the children to the letterbox and put their hands through so he could hold them.

"Can you imagine that? Grabbing on to the tiny hands of a five and three-year-old. It's heartbreaking.

"She took out an injunction against him to keep away from the house.

"But he was so desperate to see his children he broke it and ended up in prison for two weeks.

"But I can't carry on like this. I can't believe my two beautiful grandchildren are not allowed to see me.

"I feel like they're dead. I have such vivid dreams about them -- that I'm touching them and hugging them. Then I wake up and they're not there."

She added: "I've had to give my job up because all this has made me ill -- I was in the same job for over 20 years. I see a counsellor regularly, but what I really need is to see my grandchildren. And I'm sure they want to see me. They must miss me.

"All I'm asking for is to see them. I'll agree to any arrangement as long as I get to see them regularly.

"But she's moved house now so I don't know where they are living. I did spot them in town once and I ran over and called out my granddaughter's name.

"She looked at her mum before talking to me. It was as if she needed permission. That hurt -- like a knife through my heart. I told her I loved her and tried to give her a hug.

"But I could tell her mum couldn't wait to get her away from me."

Joanne said: "I'm not allowed to send them presents for birthdays or Christmas. Mind you, I can't now because I haven't a clue where they are.

"But, you know, no matter what their mum has done to me, I can't say she's a bad mother because she's not. She's a good mum.

"But I'm a good grandma. I spent hours playing with those children, baking, taking them for walks -- we all used to put wellies on and go splashing in the mud.

"They must miss that. And I miss them. Five years of holding and cuddling my beautiful grandchildren.

"And now I can only do that in my dreams."