Provocative posters comparing people who have learning disabilities to pets have been heavily criticised by animal rights groups. The posters were unveiled yesterday by Enable Scotland to mark the beginning of a campaign to highlight the problems learning disability charities face when raising funds.

{mosimage}Enable, the leading charity in Scotland for children and adults with learning disabilities, wants the posters to show that animal charities attract almost twice as many donors as disability charities.

In the UK 11.1% of the population donate to animal charities, while just 6.6% pledge cash to disability charities.

However, the campaign has been condemned for creating conflict between two sets of charities.

John Robins, secretary of the charities Animal Concern Advice Line and Save Our Seals Fund, said: “Enable Scotland is skating on thin ice in a pair of tackety boots.

“They forget that the welfare state was established to ensure that the educational and health needs of the people of this country would be paid for through our taxes.”

“If they think more money is needed to pay for special education programmes then they should be attacking government for failing to fulfil its duties.”

He added: “There is no welfare state for animals. There is no Children in Need Day for animals. People who choose to support animal charities have already paid for the welfare state through their taxes.

Working mothers are missing out on thousands of pounds because local authorities have failed to put in place available tax breaks. Childcare vouchers, which cut tax from nursery fees, can save busy parents as much as £100 a month.

Health bosses in the north-east have been forced to cancel non-urgent hospital appointments as a result of a flu-like respiratory virus which is causing havoc across Scotland.

The mother of schoolgirl Misbah Rana has dropped her claim for custody of her daughter, the Supreme Court in Pakistan has heard. The 12-year-old, also known as Molly Campbell, left Scotland without her mother’s consent last August to be with her father, Sajad Rana.

Children with alcohol-abusing parents need the same level of services directed at families of drug-users, according to a new report.

Children with alcohol-abusing parents need the same level of services directed at families of drug-users, according to a new report. It said a “cultural acceptance” of heavy drinking may be leading to delays in identifying the impact on children.

A powerful UN watchdog is preparing a report that will criticise the Scottish Executive for its failure to outlaw the smacking of children.

A former teacher at one of Scotland’s top private schools has admitted sexually abusing pupils. Jonathan Quick, retired Latin and sports teacher at Dollar Academy, admitted five charges following an investigation by police which began in 2002. The inquiry followed the suicide of a 23-year-old student who was allegedly abused by the same teacher.

{mosimage}The Herald revealed that at least three former pupils at the Clackmannanshire school came forward after learning of the circumstances of the man’s death.

The alumni, who were aged between 11 and 13 at the time of the abuse in the 1980s, claimed the teacher had touched them inappropriately.

Quick, who retired from the school in 1995, is living in a nursing home. His lawyer originally claimed he was too unwell to stand trial, but independent medical examinations said Quick was fit for the case to go ahead.

At Alloa Sheriff Court, the former teacher admitted a charge of assault with a sexual element and four charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices.

He will be sentenced on January 22. Potential sentences range from a fine to imprisonment.

The man who said we should provide free care for our elderly has now described the idea that an ageing population creates a crisis as as a “myth”.

A scheme which aims to support vulnerable adults in Tayside is to start paying participants. The appropriate adults project can no longer run using volunteers, because of an increase in demand for the service, according to Tayside Police.