Modern men were found to have an old-fashioned attitude to fatherhood

A Bristol University study found that although new fathers reduced their work hours after the baby was born, they soon returned to their old practices.

It found no evidence that men matched new mothers in combining part-time work with bringing up their children.

Fathers did not work shorter hours than childless men, the study suggested.

More control

Dr Esther Dermott, who led the research, believed fatherhood had little relationship with the hours of work done when other factors were also considered.

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She said: "Hours of work are significantly related to age, form of economic activity, occupation, earnings and partner's working-time.

"What professional men value most about their jobs is their ability to control their working hours so that they can leave early to go to school functions or parents' meetings - and this flexibility was also what other men most wanted."

The report suggested that promoting employee-driven flexible working and allowing pay-related paternity leave may prove more successful than the current policies on offer for fathers.