Fathers' protest as bishops meet

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Fathers' rights campaigners may stage a protest at the Lambeth Conference next week when 650 Anglican bishops gather in Kent.

The 10-yearly gathering is taking place at the University of Kent in Canterbury, where many of the meetings will be held.

Fathers 4 Justice founder Matt O'Connor told BBC Radio Kent the group's next stunt could be in the cathedral city.

He said the General Synod had not debated family breakdown since 1992.

Mr O'Connor said he could not reveal details of any events, but added that the group previously targeted the General Synod - the Church of England's ruling body - at York Minster in 2004.

'Huge social issue'

He said: "We've obviously scaled cathedrals. We've scaled St Paul's and we've scaled York Minster.

"Our campaign could be getting darker in terms of its tone and feel in the coming weeks but we obviously don't go into specifics."

He said since his group was formed in 2002, the campaign had "taken on a life of its own".

Mr O'Connor said fathers were being made redundant "emotionally, financially and biologically" and it was a "huge social issue".

The bishops taking part in the conference will gather on Wednesday for a three-day retreat.

There will be a service in Canterbury Cathedral on 20 July before business gets under way on 21 July, with the conference running until 3 August.

Two fathers' rights campaigners were arrested this week after a 14-hour rooftop protest was held at Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman's home.