A VERY thorny subject on travel came up last week: should children give up train seats for adults?

The row started on Twitter when former BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Shelagh Fogarty stated fit and healthy children should never be given a seat in a busy carriage if they’re old enough to stand.

While, like her, I don’t think toddlers should have a seat here when adults are standing as they could sit on their parent’s knee anyway, there is another valid point of view.

Older children will have paid for a ticket and a seat and should not necessarily have to give it up for an adult. There are caveats to this including for those with disabilities, older people and pregnant women.

The reality is that some children have been brought up to do this and some have not but I don’t think there should be a set rule.