Amy Holkham, with Archie, was asked not to breast-feed at the Tesco cafe

by Emma Grove

A mother has spoken of her embarrassment after being confronted in a packed cafe for breast-feeding her son.

Amy Holkham was approached while she was having breakfast in Tesco's Sheerness store by a man who took exception to the fact she was subtly feeding five-week-old Archie.

She has praised staff at the Bridge Road supermarket, who eventually asked the man to leave.

The 27-year-old was there with her two-year-old daughter Brianne and had put a blanket over her shoulder to cover herself and her son while she fed him.

After a couple of minutes, she was approached by the man who asked what she was doing 'because he was having his breakfast'.

Mrs Holkham, of Edenbridge Drive, Sheerness, said he then decided to quite loudly make a complaint to cafe staff and asked why should she be getting her breasts out.

"He said 'isn't there somewhere I can go'," she added.

"He went round every customer in the cafe and told them what I was doing.

"I was very uncomfortable and it was quite embarrassing to be honest.

"But I'm quite a stubborn person so I just sat there and carried on – it's made me more determined.

"I wasn't going to be bullied off – that would have left baby screaming, which is worse."

The mother-of-four said there was a customer who stuck up for her, saying to the man he wouldn't complain if a woman in a bikini or low-cut top came in.

Mrs Holkham, who is as a breast-feeding peer support worker at Seashells Children and Families' Centre in Sheerness, thanked Tesco staff for sorting the situation out.

She said if she could speak to the man now she would like to give him information about breast-feeding as he was obviously 'clueless'.

Family outreach coordinator at Seashells Kim Green said: "It was an unfortunate incident and we are delighted Tesco acted appropriately to support Amy and Archie.

"It is important for mums to be aware they are protected by the Equality Act 2010 and cannot be discriminated against for feeding their babies in public.

"Seashells works to encourage breast feeding because of the enormous health benefits, bonding experience and financial advantage it provides."

• For more information on the support offered at Seashells, phone 01795 667070 or pop in.