If you can recall the much-underrated 1980s sitcom Sorry! starring Ronnie Corbett, you'll remember the main character Timothy Lumsden who was constantly manipulated into staying at home by his mother.

But what if the shoe was the other foot and it was the adult son who out-stayed his welcome. Well this actually seems to be an increasing problem. More and more adult men are choosing to stay at home with mum and dad until well into their 20s - or even longer.

In Italy, the cramped family nest has become a political hot potato, with so many young people - around two thirds - staying in the parental home rather than marrying and starting their own families, that the government is to hand out grants to help them on their way.

Here in the UK the situation is almost as bad, with latest official figures showing that between the ages of 20-24, nearly 60 per cent of young men are still living with mum and nearly a quarter (22 per cent) are still there into their late 20s.

Although in many cases it can be an economic decision, there can be a big psychological price to pay both for the young man and his parents - let alone future girlfriends who will be expected to take over the care of a cosseted, potentially helpless male and provide the sort of service that mum used to provide. Post-Girl Power there can't be many takers for that role.

Counsellor Phillip Hodson explains: "We have a bit of a crisis in the male sex at the moment, as opposed to no crisis at all in the female. Men are being constantly out-performed by women in all areas. The future really does look as though it's female.

"Females seem to be better self-starters, better at getting out there and getting on with life, better used to hard work and at taking initiative, whereas men seem afraid to risk competition and rejection.

"For some men, this means it's a lot easier to stay in the comfort of the parental home where mum still cooks, does the washing and still thinks the sun shines out of his proverbial, even if no one else does.

"Obviously the financial situation is a factor too. For most young people their parental home also offers all the luxuries they have got used to and are unlikely to be able to afford when they first set up on their own. So it is tempting to stay put," he explains.

"The old incentives to go are no longer there. In the past a man had to leave home to have an adult life and develop sexual relationships with women, but modern parents are more relaxed and will allow girlfriends to stay so that need has gone also," he adds.

However, Hodson warns that keeping your son at home means he will never get the chance to grow up - and mum will never get the chance to grow and enjoy the freedom that later life can bring, without the intense demands of bringing up children, however old they are.

He says: "If you are always catering to your children's needs then you are allowing them to run your life, and at the same time not helping them to live theirs, become independent and form their own households. Some part of them will always fail to grow up while they still live with their parents."

Finally, with Brits, male and female, clocking up the longest working hours in Europe while women still bear the brunt of the domestic chores, it's not difficult to see trouble ahead for any relationship where a mummy's boy just jumps from one nest to another.

No woman will thank you for bringing up a son ill-prepared to cook, clean, iron and generally take care of himself.

So do everyone a favour and help him out of that door, once and for all.