THE number of mothers being targeted by the Child Support Agency after walking out on their families has trebled in three years, according to the latest figures.

One in 20 absent parents are women and, 37,300 mothers have been approached by the CSA to pay child maintenance money.

CSA chief executive Faith Boardman said these numbers are increasing.

''The common perception is that the agency is solely concerned with collecting maintenance from fathers, but this is not the case,'' she said.

She added: ''Absent mothers have the same responsibilities as absent fathers and will continue to be treated in exactly the same way by the CSA.''

In June 1994, the CSA was dealing with 4900 absent mothers (3.2%) but by February this year, the figure had risen to 37,300 (5.6%).

Julian Brazier MP, President of the Conservative Family Campaign, said the figures showed a growing selfishness and a further breakdown of family bonds.