MUMS from across Feltham travelled to Downing Street this week in support of a therapy group they say has transformed their and their children's lives.

Twelve families from Forge Lane, Oriel and Southville primary schools, and from Feltham Community College, visited the chancellor at No 11 yesterday for the launch of social enterprise The School and Family Works.

They were among 25 families from the four schools who took part in a pilot scheme run by the company's founder, educational psychotherapist Mark Griffiths.

The parents and their children, all of whom had some kind of behavioural issue, took part in weekly sessions where they were encouraged to talk about their feelings in an effort to get to the root of problems.

Despite the scheme's success, all four schools withdrew funding for the family support groups, which cost about £14,000 a year to run, at the end of the last academic year.

Mr Griffiths wants government assistance to fund the scheme, which he claims helps families break the cycle of deprivation and inequality.

He held a special session, hosted by Chancellor Alistair Darling's wife Maggie, in a bid to persuade

leading figures, including Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo, of the project's value.

Debbie Pusey's nine-year-old son Kyle, who attends Southville Junior School, was so withdrawn he barely spoke when he started the sessions.

"He went from trying to run out of school and never joining in to being the calm little boy I used to know again," said the 38-year-old, of Lower Feltham.

Mum-of-six Donna King, whose 10-year-old daughter Beckie and son Bradley Curl, 9, both attended sessions at Oriel Primary School, said their behaviour was unrecognisable from when the scheme began.

Beckie had an eating disorder and Bradley went from being bullied to bullying other children.

"Becky's finally able to sleep properly and Bradley's so much better," said Ms King.

"At first I thought it was my fault they were behaving like that, but these sessions showed me there's much more to it than that."