The death of a 38-year-old single parent, who jumped 180ft from a viaduct taking her 11-year-old autistic son with her, could not have been foreseen or prevented, an independent report has decided.

But experts have admited that more could be done in future to help children with disabilities, including autism.

Devoted mother Helen Rogan, of Consett, County Durham, jumped to her death from a local beauty spot bridge after initially plying herself and her son, Mark Young, with prescribed tablets, then slashing their wrists.

It was suggested at a subsequent inquest that Ms Rogan could have harboured fears she was going to lose her son because of his autistic problems as he grew older.

Following their deaths, in September 2001, an independent report into the circumstances was commissioned by child protection chiefs in County Durham.

The multi-agency inquiry has now concluded: "There is no evidence to suggest the deaths of Ms Rogan and Mark could have been predicted, and no culpability that can be attached to any individual person or agency."

The report said that a multi-agency task force should be created to ensure adequate provision for the county's autistic children in future.

It recommended: "All agencies in Durham are asked to establish a Task Group to develop a strategy to support an integrated approach to service provision for children and young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours."

A joint statement by Durham Social Services, Durham Education Authority and Derwentside Primary Care Trust said: "We fully accept the findings and recommendations, and we welcome the call for a multi-agency approach to providing services and support for disabled children and their families and carers, including those in the autistic disorder spectrum."

The bodies of Miss Rogan, a qualified occupational therapist, and her son were discovered by her brother-in-law after a taxi which regularly took the youngster to a special needs school failed to get an answer at their home.

An inquest into the double tragedy heard how Ms Rogan feared she would lose her son as his autism continued to affect him at an older age.

The inquest, in January this year, heard that she had initially plied both Mark and herself with prescribed tablets, before slashing their wrists with a razor blade, in a futile bid to end their lives at their home.

Police believe that they both recovered and Miss Rogan then decided to make the journey by car to a local beauty spot, less than a mile away, and jumped to her death, clutching Mark. The inquest was told he would have been barely conscious.

Their bodies were discovered at the foot of Gill Bridge, near Consett, just after 10am and Miss Rogan's T-reg Ford Fiesta was found parked in a car park severals yards from the viaduct.

Our 'forgotten little boy'

Edwina Hall, whose home in Pleasant View, Consett, is close to Helen Rogan's house, still feels let down and alone.

She claims that her pleas for help with her four-year-old son, Shay, have fallen on deaf ears.

The youngster has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is still being assessed on the medical autism spectrum.

Sleeping an average of four hours a night, the condition also means he has to be constantly watched.

Mrs Hall said she asked for help in finding a qualified carer to spend a couple of hours a day with Shay.

"All I got was a list of childminders," she said. "No childminder in their right mind would take him on, because he is too disruptive.

"I don't care if we have to pay for help - I just want to know where we can get it.

"We feel he is the forgotten little boy who has slipped through the net. Because we are not shouting and screaming, they are going to ignore us."

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "We have offered to assist Mrs Hall to access a degree of support, which we understood she was happy with.

"We are waiting to hear from her and the file is by no means closed."