A boy transitioned to being a girl from the age of three after being sent to live with foster parents, whose own son had just legally transitioned at the age of seven.

The younger child was dressed in girls’ clothes, even though teachers had “expressly asked” the foster parents not to do so.

A third foster child previously cared for by the couple also had “gender identity issues”.

The actions of the foster parents, known only as CP and TP, led to an investigation by Lancashire county council’s social services amid fears they had “manipulated” their children’s gender, had “actively encouraged” the change and risked causing them “significant emotional harm”.

However, in a closed hearing at Preston family court last month the concerns were dismissed