More than half of autistic children in the UK are given "inappropriate" schooling, new research claims.

The survey of more than 1,400 parents with autistic children was conducted for the National Autistic Society.

The organisation says teachers are not properly trained to deal with autism.

Mike Collins, the NAS's head of education,

"Too often, children and young people with autism are placed in inappropriate schools, with teaching staff who don't have relevant training in the disability and in an environment which doesn't meet their needs."

The society's campaign aims to put pressure on national and local governments to get improvements for autistic children.

There are around 90,000 children with autistic spectrum disorders.