Britain's first FGM clinic for girls to open in London in September

Britain's first specialist clinic for child victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) is set to open in London next month.

The clinic, at University College Hospital, will provide medical and psychological treatment for girls.

Doctors will also carry out examinations if the police are not sure if mutilation has occurred.

FGM includes procedures that remove or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Dangers include severe bleeding, problems urinating, infections, infertility, mental health problems, complications in childbirth and increased risk of death for newborns.

The practice has been illegal in the UK since 1985 but the first prosecutions, which are currently ongoing, were not until this year.

Doctors at the clinic will also be able to take medical photographs of victims' injuries, give witness statements and testify in court.

The NSPCC children's charity has set up a 24-hour FGM helpline and received 321 reports since it launched last June, 148 of which were referred to police and children's services.