A court in the UK has refused a transgender person who gave birth to a child to be registered on the birth certificate as the father rather than the mother.

Freddy McConnell appealed against a decision made by a High Court judge that a person who carries and gives birth to a baby is legally a mother.

Three Appeal Court judges sitting in London upheld a ruling by the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett said the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) required Mr McConnell to be registered as the mother, and the requirement did not violate his rights to private and family life, as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.

“There is no incompatibility between the GRA and the Convention,” he said. “In the result, we dismiss these appeals.”

Mr McConnell, from Kent, said he was disappointed by the Court of Appeal ruling, adding that his fight was “just not over”. He plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.