THE mother of a little boy who sparked a public outpouring of grief when he choked to death on a grape has spoken for the first time of how her family became the target of internet trolls.

But Abigail Wilson has vowed that the hurtful comments will not stop her speaking up to urge other parents to make sure they cut up food for their children.

Jacob Jenkins, two, was snacking on grapes in a branch of Pizza Hut when he put a whole one into his mouth and it became lodged in his windpipe.

Despite being trained first aiders neither Abigail, 23, nor his father David Jenkins, 31, could not dislodge the blockage.

Eventually paramedics used surgical scissors to pull out the grape, having failed to do so with suction equipment.

Abigail told The Northern Echo the family had been upset by negative comments on social media - but said it was worth it if it helped raise awareness about food safety.

She said: “There’s been a few messages which have been a bit nasty.

"Things like, ‘haven’t they got any brains,’ and ‘what were they thinking letting him eat a grape so fast,’ and stuff like that.

"It’s been awful, we’ve been really upset but, you know what, I would take it all to raise awareness. I will take it for that reason. I’m not bothered if it means the message gets out to just one other parent.”

The tragedy touched the hearts of people in Jacob's home town of Hartlepool so deeply that hundreds staged a seafront vigil for him on October 14 and released yellow balloons into the air as they prayed for his life.

But by that time, Abigail and David had been told there was no hope of a recovery and chose the moment he was in so many people's thoughts to remove him from life support.

Abigail, who is training for a social work qualification, said: "It is important that mums and dads cut up food for their little ones so it's small enough to swallow without getting stuck.

"When I look back it has struck me that that there were lots of times it could have happened, it could have happened on any day of his life.

"Like most mums I would potter about when he was eating and I want to warn people now that it's so important that you have your full attention on your child when they're eating.

The Northern Echo: Jacob Jenkins

"Of course what happened to Jacob is very unusual, but it can happen and if raising awareness can help save the life of even one child in Jacob's memory we'll be happy."

She added that she also wants to urge parents to learn first aid, even though it could not have helped Jacob.

Hundreds turned out to line the streets for the youngster's funeral on October 28.

The Northern Echo:  Jacob Jenkins' funeral cortege arrives at St. Joseph's RC Church in Hartlepool

Abigail said: "The people of Hartlepool have been incredible, it says everything about this town. To see strangers, people we don't know and have never even met, in tears for our son made us realise how many lives he has touched.

"The balloon release was also amazing and it was then that we decided to let Jacob go.

"I held him in my arms and David held me as he went. Our family was around us and we played his favourite song, Let It Go (from the film Frozen), as he slipped away.

She added: "It was so horrible and so tragic but if it was going to happen that's the best way it possibly could have. We felt people were with us and thinking of us and Jacob and it helped, we'll always be grateful for everyone thoughts and prayers."

Asked how the family were coping after Jacob’s recent funeral, she said: “Not too good. We’ve got plenty of support and we couldn’t imagine spending a minute without that support with us. But we’re not coping too good.”

There is now a campaign to name a new plane in Jacob's memory.

Travel firm Thomson are running a competition to name their new 787 Dreamliner jet, and Fly High Jacob is now gaining huge support in the online vote.

Abigail said: "It would be a lovely, fitting tribute to him.

"A couple of weeks before he died there was a skip opposite our home and it had doors sticking out of it which looked like wings. He said: 'Look Mummy, there's an aeroplane'. It made me laugh and it's one of my happy memories of him."

A GoFundMe tribute page entitled Baby Jacob The Little Angel has raised more than £20,000.