TV presenter Eamonn Holmes has backed Swindon forward Charlie Austin’s wife over controversial social media posts about her daughter’s experience with bullying.

Bianca Austin, who has three children with the Town striker, caused debate on Twitter when she praised her daughter, 16, for “finally” punching her bully in the face after weeks of being tormented.

The post, which has since been viewed over two million times, read: “After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing, today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face. Proud mum.”

While some have criticised the Swindon mother for condoning violence, the GB News presenter leapt to her defence.

Speaking on air earlier this week, he said: “I have to say that I have learnt through experience, from growing up in a very tough Belfast, it’s better to punch… get the first punch in.

“You’re doing your child no favours at all by saying turn the other cheek or just give in because bullying does not go away.”

Mrs Austin also received support from some social media users after the incident, with the internet split over her reaction.

One person said: “It's bad when you have to teach your kids to be violent just to be safe, my daughter is going through something similar."

Mrs Austin indicated the outburst was the result of weeks of physical and verbal abuse and that she had tried to get the school to take action multiple times.

She added that she felt schools were often powerless to resolve this kind of bullying.

In another Tweet, she wrote: "I told the school how proud of her I was for standing up for herself when they rang up to tell me Mallayla would be sanctioned for retaliating violently.

“No child should be able to make school hell for another child day in and day out."

But Mrs Austin’s daughter has since been handed an in-school exclusion.

Two days after the original tweet, she posted: “Two days in-school exclusion for my daughter whilst the other child has gone to class because she was only verbally abusive.

"No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools."

Many on social media condemned Mrs Austin for condoning violence.

One person added: “I understand your - and her - frustration but hitting someone in the face is never ok. Not ever.

“There are other options. And if you think that this will stop the bullying, you are wrong - it will probably escalate it."