There are frequent warnings about how expensive it is to have a child in the UK, but father-of-six and Sticking Up For Siblings author Colin Brazier says scare stories shouldn't detract from the benefits of children having siblings.

Financial service providers - and their press offices - like to treat us to bulletins about the cost of raising a child.

There are several studies each year and they peddle catchy acronyms like Cots (the Cost Of The Sibling).

But it would be naive to assume the authors of these reports are entirely disinterested. Most PR folk in the City are there to plug a product.

In recent years Cots estimates have been running well ahead of inflation. Recently the figure has been put around the £250,000 mark.