With five children from three different wives, former heroin addict and Vietnam veteran Albert Ford might not seem like the best person to be giving out parenting advice.

And he would be the first to agree.

But he has just restarted Man Enough, a nine-week course running from Elm's Children's Centre, in Botley, which aims to connect dads to their kids.

Mr Ford, 63, said: "Man Enough is not a question, it's a statement and it's about putting men and fathers back on the agenda.

"Children need fathers who engage and relate to them and although it took me a long while to realise that myself, I know the benefits and want to pass it on."

It is seven years since Man Enough classes first ran in Oxford and Mr Ford says the time is right to restart them after he suffered a health scare — and also became a father for the fifth time.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, he was one of four boys, three of whom would go on to be drug addicts.

One would also take his own life.

He said: "Although dad was there he never played, cuddled or even shouted at us."

After dabbling in drugs as a youth he joined the US Air Force, serving for four years, with the last in Vietnam.

He returned home and, within months, was a full-blown heroin addict.

He said: "What many people don't realise is that heroin is a painkiller. It hides pain, confusion and inadequacy and it was therefore ideal for me."

After six years of "throwing his life down the toilet" he cleaned himself up and worked as a lorry driver. But he wanted more adventure so he spent the next few years in Italy, England and then New York before returning to England. He married an English woman who gave birth to two sons and they moved to Oxfordshire before the marriage ended.

His second marriage produced twin sons.

He said: "Looking back I spent all those years when my sons were small just working. When my second marriage ended I knew I had to take action."

That "action" was six years of psychotherapy.

He said: "I realised how essential dads are but how unimportant they feel and are often viewed."

Mr Ford also enrolled on two parenting courses and, using one of the courses as a guide, he applied and got a £2,000 Millennium Award to set up his own version. For the next seven years he led parenting courses for inmates in Bullingdon Prison.

For more information on Man Enough courses call Mr Ford on 01865 863539 or for bookings call Sue on 01865 243955.