WE knew it would end in tears. Young singer Charlotte Church has sacked her mother as her manager.

The 16-year-old's mum, Maria, took over the management role three years ago, replacing the man credited with (or blamed for) making her a star, Jonathan Shalit.

He was sacked after a series of differences with Mrs Church, and subsequently won £2 million in an out-of-court settlement.

Rumours of a split between Charlotte, above, and Maria began after it emerged the singer was to tour North America without her. They are said to have clashed over Charlotte's boyfriend, rap DJ Steven Johnson.

Charlotte rose to fame after appearing on a TV talent show at 11 singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's aria Pie Jesu. Five years later she is worth £15 million - money that is held in a trust until she is 21.

So does Charlotte's example suggest it is a bad idea for family members to work together? And should child prodigies be pushed into the limelight?

Rosey Dunn has run the family farm at Stockton -on-the-Forest near York with husband Alisdair for 18 years. They have a teenage son

"Speaking personally, we are a very good team. Having said that, one of my husband's favourite sayings is 'familiarity breeds contempt'. It can sometimes.

You don't wholly say goodbye on a morning and 'welcome home, how was your day' at night. But at this time of year my husband does take a second job. It's nice to have that space.

But there are certainly advantages. We both know each other's fortes. It works well if you are under pressure, so that one can take over the other's job.

As for child prodigies, if they have a very obvious talent, it's great to encourage them and help them realise their ambitions. But not to the degree that they aren't enjoying it any more.

Charlotte Church seems older than her years. I didn't realise she was only 16, I thought she was at least 18 or 19.

I am definitely against this hard pushing: a child's got to want to do it."

Rachael Nicholas is a businesswoman who runs her own motorcycle training school

"When I was in retail, I worked with my sister Fleur, who's ten years older than me. She was manager of a shop, and I was deputy manager. We got on really well. It depends on the family members as to whether you can work together or not. My sister and I have quite a good relationship.

The same is true of child prodigies: it works for some people, others it doesn't. It depends whether the young person lets it go to their head. But there are definite dangers if parents are pushy. Youngsters can rebel. That could be what Charlotte Church is doing."

Updated: 10:14 Tuesday, November 12, 2002