Tory leader David Cameron said, if he became prime minister, he would allow parents to take up to 26 weeks' parental leave together if they wished.

He said flexible parental leave would help make Britain more family-friendly.

Speaking ahead of the Conservative Spring conference Cameron said: "The world is changing. Men want to be more involved in bringing up their children. That's why flexibility is a really good thing."

The government plans to extend maternity leave to 52 weeks by 2010.

After the first 26 weeks, parents would be able to choose whether the mother or the father stayed at home.

The Tory proposals would offer 52 weeks' flexible leave to parents to divide as they chose.