Police in the small town of Watton in Norfolk must be enjoying a relatively low degree of crime, if a story in today's papers is to be believed. The Telegraph reports that a mother, who was breastfeeding in public, was 'cautioned' by police for her boldness.

Margaret Boyle-White, 34, had just got up from feeding her 8-week-old baby Niamh on a bench in the town centre when a police car pulled over and remonstrated with her for breastfeeding in a public place.

'He then asked me to refrain from breast-feeding in public,' said Ms Boyle-White. 'He said he could not 'do me' for it but suggested that I use a restaurant or cafe in future. I was really surprised and embarrassed. I nearly died on the spot.

'The policeman made me feel like a criminal for doing something which is perfectly natural. I have breast-fed in public many times before and not had any complaints. I was made to feel that I had committed a crime. I think that people are happy to accept that mothers can breast-feed in public but when they actually see it happening, they don't like it.'

'I can't believe police pursued such a trivial matter,' said Mrs Boyle-White's husband.

When asked, a spokesman for Norfolk police told the paper, 'We are investigating the background to this allegation but Norfolk Constabulary does not have any issues with breast-feeding.'

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