A mother-of-two who complained to a train operator when the guard shut the doors on her baby today said she was furious to receive a "patronising" letter in reply.

The response to Kathryn Cope's complaint listed a number of safe ways to disembark from a train - despite the fact that Mrs Cope had been trying to get on with her eight-year-old daughter Sophie and ten-month-old baby Bethany when the incident happened.

As previously reported, Mrs Cope had let other passengers get on to the Northern Rail service, which was travelling from Bingley to Leeds, before tipping the pushchair up to push it on board.

But she had to pull the pushchair back when Sophie shouted that the doors were closing. Bethany's foot was caught by the door. Mrs Cope, of The Oval, Bingley, said the guard re-opened the doors after realising the family were trying to board, but she said she was angered by his attitude.

"He just said to me I nearly got you then', " she said.

But Northern's letter to Mrs Cope states: "It appears from the testimony of the conductor that all passengers appeared to exit the train safely, and the conductor commenced the door closing procedure. At that point you attempted to exit the train with your pram."

The letter continues with a set of guidelines about leaving a train correctly, which included: "Please observe the alarms that sound when the doors are closing."

And it adds: "If you were to be caught in the doors do not force your way through."

The letter finishes with: "I trust future journeys will be without such incident."

Mrs Cope said she was speechless when she received the letter. She said: "I was absolutely furious. I object to being written to as if I am completely stupid.

"As if I would be thick enough to try to get my baby on or off the train when the doors were closing. I don't know anyone who would do that. If Bethany had had any more than just a bruise on her foot it would be my solicitor writing to them."

Mrs Cope said she had notified Northern Rail of her displeasure.

A Northern Rail spokesman said: "We apologise once again for any distress caused to Mrs Cope and her children.

"Unfortunately it appears that Mrs Cope's original complaint was misinterpreted by our customer relations department and for this we apologise.

"Mrs Cope's subsequent letter has been received by our customer relations department, which will respond in due course. We would like to reiterate that the safety of our customers is our top priority and our conductors are regularly monitored in their observance of door procedures."

e-mail: rebecca.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk