The number of teachers employed to provide additional support for pupils fell last year to its lowest level since 2007.

In 2015, there were 2936 teachers with additional support needs (ASN) as their main subject in Scotland.

The number is down on the 2014 figure of 2963, and down from a high of 3402 in 2009.

The Scottish Conservatives claimed the figures were "alarming", but the Scottish Government said they discounted teachers who provide additional support outwith their main subject.

A government spokesperson cited statistics showing pupils with additional support needs were getting better school qualifications.

Scottish Labour said the decrease in ASN teachers was the result of "hundreds of millions of pounds of cuts".

A total of 22 out of 32 local authority areas experienced falls in ASN teachers since the national peak in 2009.

These include Aberdeen, down from 192 to 115, Edinburgh, down from 169 to 125, and Fife, down 248 to 194.

Some councils saw an increase in ASN teachers during the same period, including South Ayrshire from 77 to 100, Stirling from 35 to 42, and Perth and Kinross from 70 to 89.

The figures were revealed following a parliamentary question from Conservative MSP Miles Briggs.

He said: "It will be of real concern to many parents across Scotland that these numbers have reached a new low.

"It's also alarming that there appears to be such a vast difference in provision of additional support for learning teachers across different local authorities.

"Some councils have seen an increase while others, like Edinburgh, are noticeably declining.

"For pupils who require this additional support, the lack of access is likely to impact on their studies and will risk them not reaching their potential."

Briggs added: "It is difficult to see how the Scottish Government will reduce the attainment gap while these numbers are going down."

But the Scottish Government said pupils needing additional support received it "from a wide range of teaching staff".

A spokesperson said: "The figures quoted only represent the number of teachers in Scotland's schools who have additional support for learning as their main subject.

"In 2015, 95% of children and young people with additional support needs are recorded as learning within a mainstream school and receive support from a wide range of teaching staff cross a range of subjects.

"As the latest report to parliament showed, pupils with additional support needs have been gaining better qualifications at school and have been going into more positive destinations after leaving school."

The Scottish Government report on additional learning support, published in March, revealed that 59.5% of 2013/14 school leavers with ASN left with 1 or more qualification at SCQF level 5 or better - an increase of 10% since 2011/12.

It also showed 84.7% left school with 1 or more qualification at SCQF level 4 or better, up 5.6% since 2011/12.

Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said the falling numbers of ASN teachers was "clearly a problem".

Gray commented: "Plummeting numbers of ASN teachers is clearly a problem across the country and not confined to any one area.

"That's hardly a surprise given the hundreds of millions of pounds of cuts our school have faced under the SNP in the last decade and there are more cuts to come."

He added: "This simply isn't sustainable."