Mr Middleton said Grace was a factor in his decision to work from home

The government has announced it is increasing paid parental leave from six months to nine, but perhaps the biggest change is allowing either parent to use the final three months.

Father-of-one Graham Middleton shared his view of the changes with the BBC News website.

Graham and Jane Middleton's daughter, Grace, was born in the summer of 1995.

North Yorkshire, were working in office jobs with relatively equal salaries.

You've got two parents - there's no reason why a father can't do all the things that a mother can do - apart from physical things Graham Middleton Paternity leave plan

Jane Middleton, who worked for a large bank, took her full maternity leave to be with Grace while her husband took two weeks off.

"I took two weeks off but I think entitlement then was only three days and I used annual leave," Mr Middleton said.

"Jane took full maternity leave. I think we both took what we were entitled to because we believed in it," Mr Middleton said.

Debate

He said he was "all for" the option of paternity leave and definitely would have taken the full three months, had it been available when Grace was born.

"I think we would have had a debate but (my wife Jane) is very pragmatic and would have seen the fairness of it.

"We are both the parents - she would have been very supportive.

"You've got two parents - there's no reason why a father can't do all the things that a mother can do - apart from physical things.

He said spending "pure time" with a baby could improve the bond between parent and child.

Career break

Mr Middleton said some men might be concerned about how taking three months of parental leave could impact on their career.

It wouldn't be right for everyone but it least now it's an option Graham Middleton

"To me it's like a career break as long as it's not held against you when you return," he said.

"I don't think (Jane's) career was affected by having a child and I don't think mine would have been."

"I have people working for me and I would back them.

"It wouldn't be right for everyone but at least now it's an option."

Spending time with Grace was one of the reasons Mr Middleton decided to work from home, he said.

"It was a contributing factor. It became available in May 2000 and I was one of the first people to put my hand up. I want a work home balance.

"I'm quite a modern man I think it's very equal that a child sees as much of both parents as possible.