A LEIGH mother has used social media to shame C2C commuters who left her standing while feeding her 15-month-old baby on a busy train.

Bryony Atterton 32, from Leigh, shared a photo on her Facebook page in which she can be seen struggling to breastfeed her child while surrounded by passengers who are “giving more priority to their suitcases and rolling cigarettes”.

The image shows Bryony restricted by the “fancy bike that keeps rolling into me” while seated passengers show no intention of offering her a seat.

When asked by a friend on Facebook if it could be possible that people were unaware that she was breastfeeding, Bryony, an advocate of natural parenting, claimed they “1,000 percent knew”.

Bryony also voiced her frustration at cyclists who leave their bikes in compromising positions, adding: “Plus the cyclist with a fancy bike that keeps rolling into me, sat in the disabled seat.”

Bryony wasn’t alone in her fury as thousands shared their anger about the other passengers.

One user commented: “Please report this to c2c. There are too many cyclists taking the spaces for prams and not giving seats to mums or expectant women! It makes my blood boil”

The post has been shared more than 26,000 times, causing a stir among thousands of Facebook users.

Another commented: “Still managed to take a picture though!”

Since uploading her status Bryony shared that she has been trolled by internet users, saying: “I’ve had some messages saying ‘your baby looks too old to be breastfeeding’, ‘that’s disgusting put it away’, ‘exhibitionist’ and things like ‘get a car’.

“I could lecture them on being eco, saving congestion in London and on the World Health Organisations feeding guidelines”

The World Health Organisation states: “Over 800 000 children’s lives could be saved every year among children under five years, if all children up to 23 months were optimally breastfed .

“Breastfeeding improves IQ, school attendance, and is associated with higher income in adult life”

It looks as though this is a common issue for mums on the train with one user commenting: “I remember many journeys on the train breastfeeding standing up even while heavily pregnant. It’s not a great feeling, sorry you have experienced the same”

Whilst another added “I’ve sat on a suitcase in a doorway on a train breastfeeding before. Nothing shocks me anymore, some people are just plain ignorant”

The c2c website states: “All c2c trains have a number of priority seats for people who are disabled, pregnant, or less able to stand and although anyone can sit in a priority seat, able passengers are encouraged to give the seat up to those who need them most.”

A spokesman for c2c said: "We are aware of the Facebook post made by a passenger regarding breastfeeding on one of our trains.

"We welcome breastfeeding on all c2c trains and would hope our customers would be considerate to their fellow travellers and give up their seat when requested. 

"Unfortunately this does not appear to have happened on this occasion, and we are sorry for any inconvenience this caused."