The number of teachers helping pupils with additional support needs (ASN) has fallen for the seventh year in a row, new figures show.

The figures, released to the Scottish Conservatives by education secretary John Swinney, show the number of ASN teachers fell by 40 in 2016 compared to the previous year.

The number of ASN teachers in Scotland is now 2896, a 14.87% decrease from a high of 3402 in 2009.

The 2016 pupil census released by the Scottish Government shows a total of 158,658 pupils with ASN in primary and secondary schools.

Number of ASN teachers:

Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said: "For a government that claims education is its priority and that it is committed to reducing the attainment gap, these numbers are deeply embarrassing.

"The number of children with additional support needs is rising so it is of real concern that the number of additional support for learning teachers has continued to decline under the SNP.

"The figures for 2016 reached a new low with a drop of 500 from 2009."

He added: "Teacher numbers have fallen at primary school, secondary school and special school level.

"Additional support for learning teachers play a vital role in helping pupils achieve their potential and overcome learning challenges and these figures should act as a wake-up call to SNP ministers."

The total number of teachers in Scotland rose by 253 in the last year but there has been a decline in teacher numbers of 4130 since 2007.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to having the right number of teachers, with the right skills, in the right places to educate our children and young people. In the last year teacher numbers have increased by over 250 to 50,970, maintaining pupil teacher ratios nationally.

"School pupils receive support in from a range of teaching and support staff The Additional Support for Learning Act places a duty on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils."