National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux yesterday called for mothers and fathers to have the right to work "child friendly" hours following the birth or adoption of a child.

Their call came as it published research that revealed that tens of thousands of women are sacked illegally or threatened with dismissal just because they are pregnant.

It said women were asked to resign or reduce their hours and were denied rights such as time off to attend ante-natal appointments, it was reported.

But women who were wrongly sacked said they were reluctant to take action because they were daunted by the employment tribunal system could get secure only a few hundred pounds compensation and no promise of reinstatement.

The association, which dealt with 700,000 employment problems last year, including tens of thousands related to maternity and parental rights, called for a Fair Employment Commission to be set up to enforce rights at work and give advice to companies.