Thousands of children in care in Scotland are being left in risky circumstances, leaving some with lasting emotional and behavioural problems.

A study, by the Scottish Children's Reporters' Administration (SCRA) examines some of Scotland's most vulnerable children. About 13,000 children are officially "in care" having been required to have social work protection by a children's hearing.

The report looked at more than 2000 children who have been subject to such measures for five years or more.

It found that many long-term cases involved children initially left with their families, while social services attempted to increase support. However the majority had social work involvement because their parents were not caring for them well enough and 85% were ultimately removed from their parents care.

The report said by the time a decision was taken to remove children who had been initially left in the family home, levels of emotional disturbance and behavioural problems had increased from 36% to 62%.

It also said more than half of the children on long term social work supervision had a parent with a drug or alcohol problem, and more than one-third had a parent who had themselves been in state care.

The findings come ahead of a Scottish Government summit meeting next month on the care of children who are "looked after'"at home.

Jennifer Davidson, director of the Centre for Excellence in Looked after Children in Scotland welcomed the report, but said it flagged up the need for early intervention.

"We run serious risks, as cuts in local authority budgets and the third sector has meant services are spread more thinly, resulting in fewer services for these particularly vulnerable families," she said.