A mum went on social media to ask if it was ok to leave a nine-year-old child in a cafe alone for an hour - and was told "it’s a cafe, not a crèche".
The parent asked the question on Mumsnet, under a thread titled "At what age would you leave a child alone in a cafe for an hour?" And scores of people responded with their opinions.
The woman said: "DD (dear daughter) is nearly 9. Lately she has been asking to stay home sometimes when we are heading out as a family so she can read or draw.
