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A seven-year-old boy who was "living life entirely as a girl" has been taken from his mum's care after she caused him "significant emotional harm".

High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden said the woman had been "absolutely convinced" that the youngster "perceived himself as a girl" and was determined that he should be a girl.

Details of the case emerged on Friday in a ruling by the judge following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Mr Justice Hayden said no-one involved in the case could be identified.

(Image: Photoshot)

The judge said the boy was now living with his father, who is separated from the mother.

She dressed him in girl's clothes and registered him at the GP as a girl.

Mr Justice Hayden said in the written ruling: "He dressed, at all times, like a girl and, it transpired, had been registered at a new general practitioner's as a girl.'

The judge added: "I was also left in no doubt that [the mother] was absolutely convinced that [the boy] perceived himself as a girl."

He said that "flares of concern" had been sent from a "whole raft of multi-disciplinary agencies" - and he said he could not understand why so many concerns were "disregarded so summarily" by social services staff.

The judge said social services staff had "moved into wholesale acceptance that [the boy] should be regarded as a girl".

He said he wanted the council to undertake a review of the "social work response" to the case.

A council spokesperson said bosses had already begun a review.

Mr Justice Hayden said the boy had settled well in the care of his father - and his father's partner.

"I have been told that [the father] and his partner were shocked when they first saw [the boy] by the extent to which he appeared to be a girl, both in appearance and in mannerism," said the judge.

"However, what is striking is how well [the boy] has settled down."

The judge added: "I have noted from reports that [the boy] has become interested in Power Rangers, SpongeBob, Superheroes and is constantly finding new interests...

"It is striking that most of [the boy's] interests are male-oriented.

"I am entirely satisfied, both on the basis of the reports and [the father's] evidence at this hearing, that he has brought no pressure on [the boy] to pursue masculine interests.

"[The boy's] interests and energy are entirely self-motivated."