A mother claims her severely autistic teenager has not been at school for months because the authority have "washed their hands" of him.

Jennifer Duncan, of Valley Road, Rickmansworth, says nobody has wanted to deal with Devon's challenging behaviour since he was excluded from school in March.

The 14-year-old, a former pupil at Watling View School, can sometimes be violent so was never allowed outside with other pupils during break-time.

He had a meltdown during a school swimming lesson earlier this year and after teachers had to call the police, they decided it best he leave the school.

But since then, she says she has had little support from Hertfordshire County Council - and his education hangs in the balance.

Mrs Duncan told the Watford Observer: "It's been awful. He hasn't been at school for four months now. He's missing out on an education.

"No social care, no occupational therapy, no speech and language therapy has been given.

"It's been a constant battle. This whole thing is nonsense. I try to contact them time and time again, but it seems to fall on blank ears. Nobody is being proactive.

"I feel like they've washed their hands of Devon."

The frustrated mum, who has a 19-year-old daughter and a son, 15, who still lives at home, says Devon not being at school is taking its toll on family life.

She says she had two meetings with the authority in April and June, but nothing is being done to help them.

In the meantime, she is his full-time carer and looks after him 24/7 - save for a few Saturday's a month when Watford Mencap take him out.

She added: "They say they don't have anywhere for him to go and it's all oversubscribed. But my child deserves an education, he's suffering without one.

"I am angry. He is just a child and he loves school. It's a catastrophic failure."

Devon was diagnosed with autism when he was four-years-old, after his parents, including dad Patrick, noticed he struggled with learning to talk.

But despite his issues, he loves sports and being outside, including athletics, basketball and swimming.

Mrs Duncan added: "I am exhausted, but there's no time to have a breakdown. I just want him to go to school, and be happy."

Mark Watkin, opposition spokesman : "It's a black hole, children left to their own devices, it's a disgrace a situation like this can occur.

"It is desperately sad that a child can be left to suffer. It breaks my heart."

A spokesman for the council said: “Hertfordshire County Council has been working hard to consult a range of specialist settings in and outside the county as well as ensuring we have a clear, up to date, picture of this young person's needs. We will continue to work with the family to ensure he has a placement that is able to meet his complex SEND now and in the future.”