Children are being damaged by tensions between Scottish local authorities and parents who want to educate their children at home, according to a new report.

A study by Scotland's consumer watchdog found some councils intruded into families' lives, once they had removed children from school, with unannounced visits.

The Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) also highlighted concern over the length of time it takes some local authorities to agree to requests to home educate.

The report concluded the wide variations in approaches could "foster suspicion" and lead to increased tension between families and council staff which, ultimately, "can be damaging for children".

"Local authorities and home-educating families need better guidance from the Scottish Executive if they are to develop positive partnerships," the report concluded.

Douglas Sinclair, chairman of SCC, added: "Many of the problems appear to stem from the way the initial request to home-educate is handled. While some councils approach this in a positive and supportive manner, others employ a heavy-handed approach which can be intimidating to parents and, in some cases, their children."

Current estimates suggest that just in excess of 700 children in Scotland are educated at home with rural areas like Argyll and Bute, Highland and Perth and Kinross having the highest numbers. Bullying remains the most common reason for parents removing children from school.

The SCC survey of local authority practice was conducted as part of an executive consultation to find out whether guidance issued by ministers in 2004 was improving relationships between councils and parents. Campaigners have called for a change in the law to make it easier to home educate.