A mother fighting a court case has been banned from breastfeeding in the courtroom.

Natalie-Ann Leadbetter should have been attending a crucial three-day hearing at Chatham Family Court, which started on Wednesday, to resolve a contact dispute.

But the mum-of-three from Northfleet, near Gravesend, said the court made it impossible for her to go, when they refused to allow her to feed her 11-week-old baby during the proceedings.

Miss Leadbetter, 25, said: “My baby has feeding problems and needs breastfeeding practically constantly at the moment.

"My GP has written to the court, but they’re not taking it into account. I’ve been told by the court I don’t need to breastfeed her, but 11 weeks is far too young to start messing around with her feeding.”

For the full story see this week's Gravesend Messenger