The NHS will close the UK's only dedicated "gender identity clinic" for children after a litany of serious safeguarding failures.

Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has been told to shut its gender clinic by spring next year after it was criticised in an independent review, and found to be fast-tracking kids onto harmful drugs.

The review, led by Dr Hilary Cass, said the Tavistock clinic was not a "safe or viable" and other mental health issues were “overshadowed” when gender was raised by children referred to the clinic.

The clinic has seen a huge increase in referrals, particularly of young girls and children with autism. Last year it received more than 5,000 referrals, compared to 250 a decade ago.

At the same time, a growing number of people have been speaking out about the harm they faced at the hands of medics recommending experimental trans treatments.

Campaigners like Kiera Bell have condemned care providers who place young people on a path to harmful cross-sex hormones and irreversible surgery which fails to address underlying problems.

In a letter to The Scotsman newspaper earlier this year, two GPs said they have "serious concerns about the recent exponential rise in children, predominantly girls, who present with gender dysphoria to their doctor".

The GPs wrote: "It is well established that at least 80 per cent of children who present with gender dysphoria will become comfortable in due course with their biological sex if a watchful waiting policy is pursued. Research shows that most have significant mental health and social issues which need addressing as the main priority.

"Yet most children with gender dysphoria are still prescribed puberty blockers. Over 95 per cent of these children then go on to have sex hormone treatment and surgery – both of which cause irreversible changes to their bodies. Children as young as 10 have been put through this system."

They added: "We are writing this because GPs are under pressure to comply with the current trend to affirm, refer and then treat. If we disagree with this approach, what are the implications? It is time to have a measured debate on the role of GPs in helping children with gender dysphoria."