A concerned mum has launched an online campaign for a budget supermarket giant to fit all its trolleys with child safety restraints.

Natalie Hibberd complained to Aldi about the lack of harnesses after her three-year-old son toppled out of a trolley while she was shopping in its Swanley store.

While the 34-year-old blames herself for the accident, she believes the supermarket should follow the lead of other firms and fit seat straps.

When she raised the issue with the German discounter, as well as a lack of double-seated trolleys, Mrs Hibberd was stunned when told she was the first to have done so, and that more people would have to make similar demands for action to be taken.

Mrs Hibberd, of Astor Road, West Kingsdown, is now urging other parents to support her campaign and tweet, Facebook message or call Aldi.

“There are no straps in the seat for infants and every parent knows that no child will sit frozen still the whole time. Add to this the problem of not having any double, side-by-side, seated trolleys,” she said.

“If, like me, you have a one-year-old and a toddler, you have to shop while trying to keep hold of your toddler and simultaneously keeping your baby from wriggling in the seat.

“When I contacted Aldi on Facebook I said I was sure I was not the first, or last, person to discover these issues. But management called me and said I was the first person to have ever brought this up and unless lots of people raised it nothing will happen.”

Mrs Hibberd started her campaign after her son Leo toppled out of the main trolley compartment.

She usually shops with just one child but on this occasion had no choice but to take Leo and his one-year-old brother Keir with her to the Aldi branch in St Mary’s Road.

With no double-seated trolleys, and Keir too big for the in-built baby carriers, she placed him in the single seat and Leo in with the shopping.

“Normally, I would go of a morning when I don’t have Leo so I hadn’t really noticed before there were no double trolleys.

“I was having to keep Keir still in the seat and just as I turned to him, I nudged the trolley and Leo wobbled and flipped out, landing flat on his back,” said the dance teacher.

“It’s my fault that he fell out and I’m not blaming Aldi, but it’s ridiculous their trolleys do not have safety harnesses. All the other big supermarkets have them.

“Some people might say I shouldn’t shop with children. But why shouldn’t I? I’m also a working mum and have to fit it all in.”

"Some people might say I shouldn’t shop with children. But why shouldn’t I? I’m also a working mum and have to fit it all in" - Natalie Hibberd

Mrs Hibberd, who has not returned to the store since the accident last month, said: “Luckily Leo was okay but if it had been Keir he would have been really hurt. You only have to turn your back and something like this only takes a second to happen. More people need to demand restraints in seats as well as double seats.”

Trolleys at the Gravesend branch and the new store in Dartford are also without child restraints, although Dartford does have some with double seats.

A spokesman for Aldi said it complied with the necessary health and safety regulations and tests, and that a range of baby trolleys were provided for customers, including a “twin toddler” design.

He added: “We take the health and safety of everyone at our stores extremely seriously. All our trolleys conform with the globally recognised standard for shopping trolleys and sets out limitations of use, testing procedures and safety requirements.

“We also have clear signage stating that a child should never be placed in the main basket due to risk of falling out or toppling the trolley over.

“It is unusual for us to experience incidents of this nature and we are pleased that Mrs Hibberd’s son has made a speedy recovery.”