A child required a wheelchair and had to be bandaged due to sunburn from a school trip abroad.

The parent, identified as Mrs C, said Moray Council failed to take "reasonable steps" to ensure her child would not get sunburned.

The child's mother said "reasonable action" was not taken when the severity of her child's condition was established and her complaint had been handled unreasonably.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman found failings in its actions once the severity of the child's condition was known.

Staff, it said, first took advice from a pharmacist and took the child to a local hospital where Child A was "bandaged from thigh to toe".

In its findings, the SPSO said: "They took the advice of doctors at the hospital and also kept Mrs C and her husband informed until the group returned to the UK.

"We considered these steps to have been reasonable.

"However, the child was bandaged from thigh to toe and was unable to mobilise independently and in need of a wheelchair."

But the ombudsman found the authority's actions in preventing sunburn were reasonable even though they were not effective.

It added: "We were critical of a decision to allow the child to wear shorts and no sun protection when their legs were uncomfortable."

The council said the child was only exposed to 30 minutes of sunlight and sunburn was not at that stage suspected.

The return journey home from the trip, which has not been identified, was 36 hours by coach.

In its findings the ombudsman concluded: "We considered that staff, who could see the condition Child A was in, ought to have explored with Mrs C and her husband other options for getting Child A home more quickly, taking into account the child's dignity, privacy and comfort.

"We upheld this aspect of the complaint."

SPSO asked Moray Council to apologise to the child's mother and her husband for the "poor handling" of the complaint.

It was also asked to apologise for failing to explore other options for the child to travel home once the severity of their condition was established.

A spokesman for Moray Council said: "We accept the findings of the SPSO's decision report and will, as requested, provide evidence that their recommendations have been implemented."

A complaint was partially upheld by the SPSO.