A SECOND member of staff has been suspended from Scotland's crisis-hit school for deaf children amid a police probe into sex offence allegations.

It is understood the employee was removed from their post at Donaldson's School in Linlithgow at the end of last week.

The development comes after police were said to be assessing claims related to serious sexual offences at the institution, some of which are thought to be historical.

Managers at the school were last week instructed by ministers to put together an emergency improvement plan within seven days following a surprise inspection carried out in the wake of misconduct allegations against a member of staff.

Nearly half of those sitting on Donaldson's board of governors are believed to have resigned as the crisis engulfing the school gathers pace.

It is understood that seven of the 16-member board of the school have stepped down over a lack of confidence in its management.

One worried parent said: "[What has been reported now] is what I have been fearing all along - my ­understanding is that many more teachers are coming forward to say that they have problems of their own which have not been dealt with properly."