DISCLOSURES that children as young as eight are to be taught how to cope with divorce, separation and re-partnering as part of the new curriculum have caused rifts among government ministers.

New government guidelines have shown that pupils will be taught about '21st century parenting', including single-parent families and homosexual partnerships, as well as marriage.

The guidelines, which have been drawn up in consultation with expert bodies, will be taught alongside sex education classes, which stress the importance of marriage in relationships.

But some Tory MPs fear guidance towards separation and single parenting will reinforce their acceptability.

Even Education Secretary, David Blunkett, is understood to have wanted more emphasis on traditional households.

So, should youngsters be taught more than just the birds and the bees at such a young age, or should they be left to grow up with as little interference as possible?

The Citizen sent reporter Sonja Karlsen and photographer James McCloughlin onto the streets of Chorley to find out your opinions.

Margery Kendall, 53, from The Causeway, Chorley, thought that children should be taught more about marriages and relationships.

She said: "Yes. They should. It's important. There's no morals left any more. They need to be taught what they should be doing. "They teach them about contraception, not that that's wrong, but they shouldn't be doing it unless they're married."

Mrs Maher, 31, of Chorley, agreed: "Yes. I think they should be taught. They need to know when they're growing up what it's all about."

She also seemed to be in favour of the marriage guidelines: "I think they need a mother and a father to bring them up because one person to bring the children up isn't enough. They haven't got the time."

Florist, Louise Riding-Woods, 18, of Chorley, also thought it would be a good thing if youngsters were taught about the importance of relationships.

She said: "They need to learn more about it before they rush into things. Most kids don't seem to know much about it."

Shiela Atkinson, 55 and her husband, Roy, 61, of Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, had differing opinions on the subject.

Mrs Atkinson said: "I don't really know whether they should or not. I haven't got any children so it's difficult to say."

But Mr Atkinson was quite certain of his view: "We were never taught about it and we haven't gone far wrong, have we?"

Workman, John Halligan, 27, of Hamilton Road, Chorley, did not think learning about marriage would be that important.

Mr Halligan, who lives with his girlfriend, said: "There's no need really. We learn when we get older, don't we? It's something that's drilled into you."

A man with a differing opinion from the other male interviewees was Peter Catterall.

The 62-year-old, of Chorley, said: "They definitely should be, yes. It's about standards that have got a bit laxed lately.

"I don't know whether they'll ever get back to how they used to be."