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The Loose Women panel have come under fire for an "uneducated" discussion about transgender issues.

The panel tackled the subject of "oversharing" with children, questioning whether kids should be sheltered from certain topics at a young age.

But some viewers have criticised the ladies for relating issues of gender to sexuality, accusing them of being "completely clueless" about the issue.

Host Andrea McLean introduced the topic, saying: "There's been a quadruple rise in the number of children, some aged 10 or under, who have been referred to the NHS and that's because of transgender feelings."

She continued: "Transgender is a word that has been bandied around an awful lot in the last 12 months or so, especially because of the case of Caitlyn Jenner over in America."

She asked fellow panelists: "The fact that young children are now questioning their sexuality and their gender at such a young age, is that refreshing or is it a worry, do you think?"

Nadia Sawalha replied: "Last year my step daughter told me the 'in' thing at school was self harming, and then before that it had been throwing up. You know, fashionable words that have been taken on."

She then relayed a story of how she heard her child role playing with friends and asking 'Which one of is going to be transgender?'

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant continued: "[And then] my husband said he wanted to become a woman for some reason, to which my daughter asked, you're not going to become a woman, are you?'"

Gloria Hunniford then stepped it to talk about a girl she knows who identifies as a male and is hoping to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

She said: "It must be so difficult for parents to deal with that.

"It would be bad enough if a child eventually had to have a mastectomy for health reasons, but just to look like a boy?"

Jane Moore replied: "I would say if she's got to that stage she's definitely... at a teen age you know by then, don't you? The under 10 aspect worries me."

Gloria responded to say: "You understand when your child talks about homosexuality but being transgender is a whole new thing."

Jane Moore ended the discussion by saying: "We shouldn't push anything on a child. All you can ever have with them is an open relationship where they feel they can come and talk to you about it," with the audience clapping in agreement.

But some viewers were less than impressed with the discussion, with one saying: "Bit annoyed with Gloria. Didnt agree with what she said about the girl who is going through her transgender operations.x"

Another said: "@loosewomen its important to remember being transgender isnt necessarily about sexuality/who ur attracted to, but about GENDER identity."

"@loosewomen trying to discuss trans* and getting the basics of 'gender' and 'sexuality' confused # goodgrief."

"The women on Loose Women talking about Trans are p***ing me off," another said.

"@loosewomen please never talk about transgender issues again, you're all completely clueless. Love, a trans 20 year old," one viewer added.

See more reaction below.