FAMILY support agencies have been cleared of blame in the report into the double-death tragedy of a mother who leapt from Hownsgill Viaduct clutching her autistic son.

But the report has highlighted serious deficiencies in the system of caring for disabled youngsters, with one expert describing it as a Cinderella service.

The independent report was published last Friday. It followed reviews by all the agencies concerned with Mark Young, 11, and his mother Helen Rogan and an investigation by the Durham Area Child Protection Committee.

In September last year, single mother Ms Rogan, 38, of Robinson Street, Consett, took Mark with her as she plunged 180ft from the Hownsgill Viaduct, in the Moorside area of Consett. An inquest heard she had plied herself and her son with pills and slashed their wrists in the hours before the incident. Verdicts of suicide and killing were recorded.

It is thought that although there had never been a question of Mark being removed from her care, Ms Rogan feared this happening as she struggled to cope with his increasing demands.

Taxi driver and family friend James Robinson, who took Mark to Thornhill Park Special School in Sunderland every day, told the inquest that Ms Rogan, an occupational therapist, was desperate for respite care.

The report, which covers Mark's life since birth, states: "There is no evidence that the tragic deaths of Ms Rogan and Mark could have been predicted, and no culpability can be attached to any professional or agency."

But it adds: "A lack of co-ordination meant that Ms Rogan's needs as a carer were never fully assessed, and this did cause her considerable anxiety and stress."

The report also highlights professionals' lack of understanding of the nature of autism and recommends that a multi-agency umbrella service be established.

Debbie Jones, Durham County Council's head of children and family services, said the agencies were working towards this.

She said: "Child protection is first priority, and inevitably services for disabled people, including services for children with autistic spectrum disorders, become a Cinderella service.

"We had already put in place plans to increase the resourcing for this area, and there have been a whole heap of changes, starting with work to establish a disabled children's team."

Helen Geldard, who has an autistic son and runs the County Durham Autistic Support Group, said: "It is heartening that they are starting to listen but this needs to be a starting point.

"We need to prevent something like this ever happening again."