PRIORITY seating signs have been updated on c2c trains following an appeal by a heavily pregnant passenger - who resorted to sitting on the floor - when commuters failed to give up their seats.

In a c2c newsletter issued on Monday morning it showed the new label with a diagram of a pregnant woman alongside a man with a walking stick accompanied by the words: “Please give these seats up for people who are disabled, pregnant or less able to stand”.

Louisa Hussey, 27, of Southend Road, Corringham, was left shocked and upset when “selfish” passengers refused to give up their seats on c2c’s 7.24am train from Basildon to Fenchurch Street on Wednesday, May 20.

Since then c2c have issued this notice: “Following feedback from a c2c customer we have updated our priority seating labels taking into account disabled, pregnant or less able to stand customers.

“We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to one of our pregnant customers who experienced problems getting a seat on her journey to work and this unfortunately resulted in her having to stand.

“Thank you for your feedback.”

At the time Louisa, who is due to give birth to her first child next week, was left upset and angry but is now thrilled that other pregnant women will not have to go through what she did.

Louise, who is engaged to Paul Scott, 27, said: “I am absolutely thrilled by this news. It’s a real breakthrough for all pregnant women now and in the future.

“I’m so glad the awareness has been raised and no one will have to go through what I did.

“I’m also glad that c2c have apologised and rectified the problem.”

The new priority seating labels are now in the process of being fitted in all c2c trains.