Parents of autistic children from across Scotland want to set up a new independent school for children suffering with the condition.

The families fear the comprehensive system and the independent sector are failing to cater for their children's complex needs.

Scotland has a number of special schools for children with autism - in the private and state sector - but parents argue they do not suit every child.

There is also concern that the Scottish government's policy of mainstreaming - sending children with learning difficulties to a comprehensive school - can end up harming children if they are not sufficiently supported.

The parents want to set up their own school using a teaching technique known as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). ABA schools have been set up in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, but there is no similar school in Scotland.

A recent report showed nearly a third of local authorities were having difficulty implementing the policy of mainstreaming.