'Dads should get at least 8 weeks paternity leave - it's not fair for the mums'

A dad-of-one is calling for all new dads to be given at least eight weeks paid paternity leave.

Clive Zimheni, 31, got two weeks' paternity leave when daughter Ziva, now three, was born. He booked an extra two weeks off using annual leave too, but felt it wasn't enough - because his wife Primrose Zimheni, 31, still needed his support.

After speaking to friends and colleagues - one had to return to work before his wife had even healed from her c-section - Clive began petitioning to change the system.

He's launched a Change.org petition demanding new fathers get paternity leave 'to match post-birth recovery periods' and has 464 signatures. Currently the law states men can take up to two weeks' leave within 52 weeks of the birth of their child, which can be taken together or separately.

Design engineer Clive, from Bolton, says it would mean they would be at home long enough for their partners to physically recover from birth, in many instances, and to be there for the early stages of their baby's life. He said: "I had to book off extra time because Primrose was struggling with being a new mum on her own.

"They have to cook, clean and look after themselves, while sleep deprived and still recovering from birth - and also look after the baby. People are surprised postpartum depression rates are so high these days - but when it's one person alone, they have no support system there, and the only person to talk to can't talk back.

"Longer paternity leave allows both parents to be involved in the formative stages of a child's life. And it exposes outdated ideologies - we shouldn't leave everything to the mum to do."

Clive launched the petition on Change.org earlier this month after a friend confessed he'd had to book holiday and