A PROMINENT father figure could be the key to a happy and stable life, research has revealed.

And fathers who take time out to read to their children and take them on family outings play a vital role in academic success.

The study of 17,000 children, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and was based on data from the National Child Development Study, revealed that reading regularly to youngsters could mean they are more likely to get at least one qualification at A level or higher.

It has been published to coincide with Bedtime Reading Week which is organised by the Forward Arts Foundation to encourage all parents to set aside more time to read to their children.

The findings hold true for children of divorced or separated fathers and for those with step fathers.

And results revealed that boys and girls did better at school with an involved father figure regardless of a father's social standing or education. It also showed that a children's mental state can be improved in later life and made anti-social behaviour less likely.

The mental-health benefits of having an involved father figure were particularly apparent for girls in their teens.

And boys and girls who felt close to their fathers were more likely to report satisfactory adult marital relationships themselves.