Boy, 9, returns to school as a girl

A nine-year-old boy is believed to have become the youngest person in Britain to swap gender and is now attending primary school as a girl.

The unidentified Year Five child left school as a boy and returned the next day as a girl, in female uniform with a ponytail tied in pink ribbon.

The case comes after reports a 12-year-old boy had started secondary school as a girl.

Both children are too young to have had a sex change operation or hormone therapy as this is only given to people aged 18 or over.

There was a mixed reaction from gender experts.

A spokesman for transgender group the Beaumont Society said: "This child is vulnerable to bullying and teasing. They and their family have been seriously misadvised. It is hard enough for an adult to change gender. To go to the extent that this nine-year-old has gone is unique."