Residents in a district in Manchester say they have to be taking care of an elderly man because his children have abandoned him.

They say they are not complaining, but it is a shame that the man has grown children who have refused to assist him .

"We know he used to take care of his three children but they have turned their backs on their 82-year-old father," one of the residents said.

"He was a farmer and he worked hard to support his wife and children . He sent them to school and provided for them to the best of his ability. He even helped other children and people in the district when he was working.

"He lives alone now because his wife died seven years ago but it is a shame that his children do not visit him or see to his welfare. He has some fruit trees on his property and one of the men in the district sell the fruits and use the money to help to prepare meals for him. Many other people in the district help him in anyway they can.

"I am just writing to say that people should not criticise old people or be unkind to them because some of them are good parents who took care of their children, but sometimes the children abandon them during old age".

Summoned

The Maintenance Act places an obligation on children to maintain their parents and grandparents. They can be summoned to court and if the judge is satisfied they can afford to maintain or contribute to the maintenance of the person, the order will be made for them to do so.

Section 10 (1) of the Maintenance Act states that "every person who is not a minor has an obligation, to the extent that the person is capable of doing so, to maintain the person's parents and grandparents who are in need of such maintenance by reason of age, physical or mental infirmity or disability.

"Every person who is not a

minor has an obligation, to the extent that the person is capable of doing so, to maintain the person's parents and grandparents."