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Scores of mothers outraged after Claridge’s told a woman to cover herself with a large napkin while breastfeeding are to stage a protest at the luxury hotel tomorrow.

Nearly 100 women are set to breastfeed their infants outside the historic Mayfair venue after 35-year-old Lou Burns was ordered by staff to cover up to avoid “causing offence” to other guests.

Mrs Burns, who is married to actor Nick Burns - best known for the comic character Nathan Barley - said she was left so embarrassed by the incident she burst into tears and could vowed never to return.

Now, in solidarity, fellow mothers are staging a “Claridge’s nurse-in” in defiance of the hotel’s policy to “be discrete”.

A Facebook group organising the demonstration, entitled “Free to Feed”, states: “Enough is enough. Claridge’s have had ample time to apologise for their mistake and rectify the situation by changing their ‘policy’, which states that they allow nursing mothers ‘so long as they are discreet’.

“Claridge’s seem to think that they are above the laws and legislation of this land. This will be a peaceful demonstration in support of breastfeeding mothers. All welcome.”

Mrs Burns, from Streatham, was having an annual celebratory Christmas afternoon tea with her mother and sister and 12-week-old daughter Isadora at the five-star hotel when waiters rushed to cover her baby in a large napkin as she began feeding her.

The mother-of-three slammed the hotel’s “Victorian” policy and told the Standard: “My first reaction was to burst into tears. I was so shocked and humiliated.

“I have three children and this is the first time I have been able to breastfeed properly. Women are under so much pressure to breastfeed and it is not always easy. I did not expect to be made to feel I have done something wrong.

“I felt so awkward...It was so upsetting.”

The 2010 Equality Act makes it unlawful for a business to discriminate against a breastfeeding woman.

On its website, the NHS adds: “You shouldn’t ever be made to feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public. In fact, the Equality Act 2010 has made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place such as a cafe, shop or public transport.”

A spokeswoman for Claridge’s said at the time: “Of course we allow breastfeeding, we just ask our guests to be discreet, that’s all.”

She said they were aware of the planned protest but declined to comment.