HARD-UP parents descended on the Child Support Agency to protest over computer bungles which have left them out of pocket.

The Merseyside mothers turned up at the Wallasey offices yesterday, claiming they have spent months without cash to look after their children.

They say staff at the agency have told them their cases cannot be processed because of a fault on the computer system.

The problem is so bad that there is now a mas sive backlog, which will delay their claims even further.

Pat Mason, a mother-of-three from Bootle, is one of the protest organisers. She has been left without cash for more than three months.

She said: "I'm just totally fed-up with being fobbed off.

"The CSA just keep making excuses saying their computers aren't working.

"It's not just us, there are hundreds of people in the same boat and it is getting worse because the backlog is growing.

"This is people's lives they are playing with."

The CSA introduced a new computer system last year, but it has been dogged by problems.

A spokeswoman for the CSA said: "We cannot comment on individual cases .

"We have been quite open about the fact there are problems with our computer systems.

"We are currently working with our supplier to rectify these.

"The Secretary of State will make an announcement when we have m ore information."