Calls mounted last night for a new drive to improve Scotland's parenting after The Herald yesterday revealed dozens of children under eight, including a two-year-old, had committed crimes.

Shocked politicians warned that mothers and fathers must take responsibility for offences, such as fireraising and vandalism, carried out by children.

Bill Aitken, the Tory justice spokesman, said: "Action must be taken against parents who are not prepared to adhere to their own responsibilities."

Children under eight are not deemed criminally responsible. The Herald yesterday reported at least 132 children under that age had been found committing criminal acts.

They included two three-year-olds in the Northern Constabulary area who threw stones at cars and a two-year-old, in Strathclyde, who carried out an unspecified offence.

Most child experts argue children of such an age cannot understand the consequences - or potential consequences - of their actions. Their parents, said Mr Aitken, should.

He said: "It's always going to be alarming when you see children committing crimes, especially as some of the children here have been found possessing drugs. This sad state of affairs is further evidence of an increasingly broken society.

"At the moment, too many of them are being failed by their families and by society."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government stressed that parents had a duty to teach children right from wrong.

He said: "Tackling a problem like this means getting at the root causes of crimes - especially drink, drugs and deprivation.

"This government is committed to providing early support to parents through funding a range of parenting projects which promote positive parenting skills and support to parents."