A YEADON-BASED charity which helps children with gender issues is voicing serious concerns after the removal of a child from its mother following a High Court ruling.

A seven-year-old boy who was "living life entirely as a girl" has been taken from his mother's care and now lives with his father.

Mr Justice Hayden said the woman had caused her son "significant emotional harm" - and he criticised local authority social services staff responsible for the youngster's welfare.

The judge said the woman had been "absolutely convinced" the youngster "perceived himself as a girl" and was determined that he should be a girl.

The decision over the child has been criticised by Mermaids, a charity which supports young people and children with gender issues.

The charity's CEO Susie Green said: "This case highlights the challenges of how professionals across a number of agencies including the Courts, understand and respond to issues relating to gender identity. This is a complex case, many aspects of which are not reflected in the judgement. Unfortunately, the Court did not request any expertise to be provided either from this organisation, or from the national centre for supporting children with gender issues, the Tavistock GIDS. There is also a body of international experts, commentary and research in this field, none of which has been formally accessed.

"We know from experience, having worked with hundreds of young people, and from international research that very young children can express gender non-conforming behaviours. The stress and isolation that families can feel when their child experiences gender identity challenges at any age can be immense. It must be appreciated that this matter involved parents who had separated in very acrimonious circumstances.

"There have been a number of unsubstantiated allegations made against the mother which have been presented as fact in the judgement. What is clear is that the child’s voice appears to have been lost in the face of a bitter parental dispute. Mermaids would urge the Courts to respect the child’s human rights and that the child remains central to the entire proceedings."

The charity said the announcement of the ruling was followed by the creation of an online petition demanding justice for the mother and her child, which received over 3,000 signatures within hours, as parents of transgender children and their supporters feared for the human rights repercussions. Many are worried that they could be accused of child abuse for supporting their children.