A mum sparked a furious debate online today after claiming that her relationship changed with her son after smacking him once.

Broadcaster Rebecca Wilcox appeared on This Morning to debate new Scottish legislation banning smoking, which she agrees with.

Meanwhile fellow mum and journalist Clare Muldoon said that she objected to the law.

Speaking to hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, Rebecca said that he "biggest guilt" as a mum was that she once smacked her four-year-old.

"It was all to do with my loss of control," she said. "Yeah, he was misbehaving, yes he was doing something wrong, but I'm the adult, I should know better.

"I'm constantly saying don't hit your brothers, don't hit your friends, don't hit me. And what am I doing? Biggest hypocrite in the world.

"I smacked him – not hard, didn't leave a mark – but the fear in his eyes and the relationship changed and there was an effect… he started hitting more."

However Clare said: "I think there's a very fine line between the state interfering with parental responsibility."

She added that she felt as though it was "big brother honing in".

Unsurprisingly, this sparked a huge debate online with opposing viewpoints.

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