PARENTS packed a County Durham cafe yesterday (Saturday, March 15) in support of a national campaign to promote breastfeeding in public.

Tasha McNeil organised the event in Starbucks, at St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, and almost 20 parents - some breastfeeding and others bottle or formula feeding - took part.

It was held at the same time as thousands of mothers participated in mass public breastfeeding protests across the country, in support of Midlands mother Emily Slough.

She was targeted by internet trolls when a picture of her breastfeeding her daughter during a shopping trip in Rugeley town centre, in Staffordshire, was posted online and she was branded a tramp.

Miss McNeil, from Bishop Auckland, said: “I used to hide when I was breastfeeding my first child, Hallie, some people would be mean and said nasty things.

“They’d tell me there is a time and place for that sort of thing, I should cover up or go to the toilet or changing room to feed my child but they wouldn’t eat their food on the toilet.

“I gained confidence and now with my eight-month-old, Logan, I’ll feed wherever and whenever he’s hungry.

"I’m not getting it out to show people but discreetly doing a natural thing that I feel is best for my family.

“Mothers should be free to make a choice for their baby and not be made to feel wrong if that means breastfeeding in public.

“I hope events like this help normalise it.”