Plans to force lone parents back to work early have been branded "hypocritical" by two friends each struggling to raise their children single-handedly.

Anne-Marie Smith, 38, from Pollok in Glasgow, said adopting the proposals must be combined with support for lone parents to pursue an education.

Ms Smith, who was a volunteer mentor with One Plus, the lone-parent charity that went into liquidation last week, said: "I'm all for lone parents returning to work, but a strong support network must be in place to enable them to get an education before their youngest child is 12."

While ministers argue that more parents can now return to work because childcare provision has increased, Ms Smith is among many forced to stay at home because facilities were wiped out with the collapse of One Plus.

Ms Smith, who is studying sociology and psychology at college and plans to go on to university, added: "I'm now having to study at home because there is no help for me to look after my four-year-old daughter."

Her friend, Doreen Meek, agreed. Ms Meek, 31, a council worker from the Nitshill area of the city, has been unable to work, partly because One Plus has collapsed.

The shift worker, whose daughter, Kirsten, is three, said: "I've been screaming for help with childcare facilities so that I can get back to work - but there's no help around here for anyone who works outwith nine-to-five or at weekends."