Teens who identify as trans are being illegally dispensed hormones by online pharmacies, a Sunday Times investigation shows.

The paper heard troubling accounts of children who are uncomfortable with their bodies and accessing drugs through the internet.

It notes the case of Lottie, a girl who shaved off her hair at 13 and began asking teachers at her girls' school to call her by a boy's name.

Her parents were alarmed by her behaviour and eventually came across a bottle in her room labelled 'beard oil' along with used syringes.

After the substance in the beard oil was tested, they discovered it was in fact testosterone, bought from an online pharmacy.

After delving into the issue further, the Sunday Times found dangerous prescription-only drugs are "routinely being sold online". It states:

"Users of messaging forums such as Reddit are directing confused teenagers who identify as transgender to pharmacies operating illegally".

A Reddit forum with almost 40,000 members around the world is dedicated to providing advice to those hoping to attempt a transition.

"Users tell those suffering from gender dysphoria...to take cocktails of drugs rarely prescribed on the NHS to aid their transitions.

"The most popular is spironolactone... to suppress testosterone levels...Hormone drugs can have irreversible consequences.

"Taking oestrogen can cause breast development in boys...testosterone may cause the...deepening of the voice in girls [and] facial hair growth."

Responding to the revelations, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said young people were risking “serious harm” to their health.

Miriam Cates, a Conservative MP and former science teacher who has criticised “trans ideology”, said the UK should look to prosecute anyone found promoting or selling hormone drugs to youngsters.

Baroness Morgan of Cotes, a former education secretary, said regulation was “long overdue” adding that the government might tackle the issue through its Online Safety Bill.

At the weekend, the government declined to confirm whether the Online Safety Bill will grant Ofcom powers to block youngsters from accessing harmful drugs.