EXASPERATED parents are handing over thousands of pounds to encourage their grown-up children to fly the nest and take their own first steps on the property ladder.

According to new research by Skipton Building Society helping 20-something children to leave the comforts of home costs UK mums and dads and average of £8,000 - a potential cost of £16 billion nation wide.

But help is at hand - the society has organised a parents' evening at its Skipton High Street branch on Wednesday from 5.15pm.

The event will offer practical and financial advice to worried parents.

In a bid to cut the apron strings, resourceful parents are exploring a multitude of ways to fund their children's independence.

One in three Yorkshire parents had dipped into their child's inheritance funds, and 20 per cent have given cash to their fortunate offspring.

A further seven per cent of parents are willing to go into the red for their children and consider taking out a personal loan to help them.

Sally Morgan, branch manager, said: "There are many options open to parents who are trying to help fund their child's first home.

"Depending on their circumstances, parents could remortgage their house to free up some capital, or act as a guarantor on their child's mortgage.

"However I'd urge people to come and talk to us at our parents' evening to find out what's best for them."

More than a third of adults nationally still living at home are doing so because they like their home comforts too much, although a third admit high property prices leave them with little other choice.

For some, the extent to which parents are helping out their kids is causing marital friction, with close to a third of couples arguing over whether they should stump up to help their children move out.

It seems some parents will go to any length to try to help their child move out of the family home. Some have foregone their annual holiday, and one in 10 nationally have missed debt repayments.

However, financial pay-offs are not the only sacrifice parents are making.

Old habits die hard and a whopping 93 per cent of kind-hearted Yorkshire mums are still washing their grown-up children's clothes while 80 per cent make sure their loved ones come home to a hot meal.