A young dad is on a mission to see more baby change areas for men in Manchester.

With many such changing tables in either the ladies or disabled toilets, Jamie Hallows says they need to made more accessible to dads.

On many occasions he says he's struggled to find somewhere to change his two-year-old daughter Laila Rose.

Following in the footsteps of singer John Legend, who recently voiced his opinions on the lack of facilities for dads to use, Jamie has launched a petition titled 'Accessible baby-changing facilities for ALL!'.

In it, Jamie, from Stalybridge, says: "John Legend and Ashton Kutcher have both led the way in the USA to solve the problem we have on both sides of the pond, so I call upon the UK to follow in the USA's footsteps by making a change and trying to solve this problem aswell."

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

"I'm sure many fathers can relate to this situation... Many a time have I been in a public place and in need of somewhere to change my little girl's nappy but struggling for somewhere to go. Most baby changing facilities are located within the female toilets, or in the disabled toilets.

"I see 2 main problems with this: 1. These disabled toilets aren't as accessible as you may be led to believe, due to location within the building and the lack of them.

"2. Due to the lack of them, using this facility for baby changing will block this facility up and therefore not allow disabled people to use the facility which was designed for them as. They need it more."

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

In his petition, Jamie, who lives with Laila and his partner Aimee Wardle, refers to an incident at the Vue cinema inside The Printworks, when he struggled to find somewhere to change her.

"They have five floors of public space with one disabled toilet with baby changing located on the first floor," he said. "Is this accessible baby changing for fathers? Other baby changing facilities are located within the female toilets on the other floors."

Jamie, who turns 19 this month, is currently studying law in Manchester and working as a part time chef at JD Wetherspoons, Stalybridge.

He has set up his own DadChat Facebook page as a forum for dads to share their experiences and highlight issues such as this.

He told the M.E.N's Manchester Family : "Baby changing facilities are available for men but are more accessible to women.

"I want men to move away from this toxic masculinity of manly things and feminine things to do, but this can't happen if baby changing isn't accessible to men.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

"The USA have already made a change by bringing the 'Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act" (BABIES Act) in US law in 2016 so why don't the UK follow suit with a similar act of Parliament to force companies and public spaces to make that change?"

He added: "When I took Laila Rose to see Aladdin at The Printworks and I realised her nappy needed changing, I quickly picked her up and tried to find a baby change.

"I was on floor three and I was informed by staff that baby changing was in the female toilets and that I couldn't go in, the nearest that I could use was two floors down in the disabled toilets.

"By the time I had reached the disabled toilets, there was only one of them there and it was in use, my daughter's nappy was leaking and I had to change her outfit completely with the spare I carry around.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

"This could have been avoided if baby changing was more accessible to men. This is just one of the times I have had this disaster and I've been told by other fathers that the same issue has happened to them.

"Not many fathers speak out on issues surrounding their children, it's usually the mothers. But I want to be the differance.

"Men should speak out more on issues that they face rather then sit back and let it happen because society says it's a female job to look after children."

A spokesperson for Vue said there are three baby change facilities at Vue in The Printworks.

She said: "Vue Manchester Printworks has an accessible toilet available for baby changing purposes, complete with a changing table.”

A spokesman for The Printworks said: "All tenants are responsible for their own facilities."

To read more about Jamie's petition to the Minister for Families and Children, or add your support, you can find it here .

Are you a dad who has struggled to find somewhere to change your baby's nappy in Manchester? Do you support Jamie's mission for better facilities for men? Let us know in the comments or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page.