A CAFE boss has batted away accusations that a mother was asked to leave for breastfeeding in public.

Breastfeeding mum, Emma Davies, was left stunned after being told to leave a cafe as she was feeding her son.

Emma, from Catrine, claims that staff from the cafe asked her to leave shortly after she began breastfeeding her young son.

Emma decided to go on a shopping trip to Ayr's Kyle Shopping Centre with seven month old son, Kaiden.

She popped in to the Macy's Cafe to sit down and breastfeed Kaiden, but was left furious when two staff members told her that she would have to leave.

Emma says that she then called the Kyle Centre the following day to report the incident but was old that the incident was nothing to do with them.

Emma Davies: "I was shaking and telling them 'by law you can't move me'.

"I went in to the cafe and sat down and nobody said anything to me. I started to feed Kaiden and then one of the staff came over and said that they were closing.

"I was told that the seats I sat at were for customers only. I would even have bought something to drink just to sit there.

"I was so taken aback that I was shaking and everything. No mother should have to deal with this situation.

"It could have been my very first time breastfeeding in public and that could have put me off forever. I could make someone feel really self-conscious.

"I'll probably think twice next time and just sit in the car next time."

Manager of Macy's Cafe at the Kyle Centre. Gary Graham, says that the mother was not asked to move because she was breastfeeding, but was in fact asked for health and safety reasons.

He said: "It's totally untrue. We don't have any issues with breastfeeding at all. In fact, we would be happy to welcome any breastfeeding mother at the cafe.

"The girls were mopping up the food court and they said that, because the floor was wet, it was a health and safety hazard. I think there has been a wee crossed wire here somewhere, but I'll say again, we do not have any issue with anyone breastfeeding their children whatsoever and would welcome them to pop in."

The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 means that it is illegal to stop a mother feeding her baby breast or formula milk in public.

The Breastfeeding Network is an independent source of support and information for breastfeeding for women and others.

Sarah Edwards, Ayrshire Volunteer Coordinator for The Breastfeeding Network said: "The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 means that it is illegal to stop a mother feeding her baby breast or formula milk in premises where the public has general access and it's important to highlight that most mums breastfeed in public with no negative reactions, but if mums are feeling worried about breastfeeding in public they can always contact their local Breastfeeding Network volunteers to chat about it or call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212.

"We want our communities to see breastfeeding mums as perfectly normal which is why we promote the NHS Breastfeed Happily Here scheme to businesses and families. The Breastfeed Happily Here stickers make it clear to everyone that a venue supports breastfeeding and this makes mums feel at ease and welcomed to breastfeed when they are out and about in the community. Businesses who sign up for the scheme display their ‘Breastfeed happily here’ sticker to let customers know that they welcome breastfeeding mums. It is a voluntary scheme which does not involve any changes to facilities. All that is needed is a positive attitude towards breastfeeding mums.

"More than 130 venues all over Ayrshire have now signed up to the scheme and are displaying their stickers. You can find out more information about which venues have signed up on the Breastfeed Happily Here facebook page."