The number of children calling NSPCC charity Childline about gender identity has tripled in the last three years, to 2796 in the year to March 2016.

Most were aged 12 – 15 but the charity also counselled 260 11-year-olds. Childline say that main issues discussed with “trans” children were the mental health problems of feeling “trapped in the wrong body”, and suicidal thoughts, caused by cruel abuse and homophobic bullying.