A world authority in mediation says the Isle of Man should grasp the opportunity to promote the process as an alternative to court proceedings.

Dr Frank Hanna, who lives in Port Erin, set-up Arizona's mediation service, has been involved in 2,000 cases and now trains mediators.

Recently it was announced the Children's Centre was closing its Family Mediation Service, due to a lack of funds, and the Department of Home Affairs would be setting up its own mediation service later this year.

Dr Hanna, who is widely consulted by business and government in the United States, says he hasn't been approached to offer advice.

But he believes the Island could take mediation a lot further, and show other countries the way forward: