A single mother desperate plea for help with her hugely challenging autistic son has finally been answered.

Susan Burns, 35, from Tadworth has been at her wits end trying to cope with the behaviour of her son Owen, 10 who was expelled from West Ewell Primary at the age of four for biting his teacher's lip so severely it required reconstructive surgery.

Unable to communicate and prone to violent behaviour, Owen was moved to Linden Bridge, a specialist autistic school in Worcester Park, where he has been taught in isolation for the last two years with teachers fearing for the safety of other children.

However three months ago Owen was expelled for a second time after ‘horrifically’ biting the arm of his teacher.

At home, his 11-year-old sister, Mia, has been left bruised and scarred and Mrs Burns has been pleading with Surrey County Council to find a place for him at a residential school specialising in autism.

Within days of her contacting this newspaper about the issue the council confirmed it will find a place for him and he should be able to start within the month.

A spokesman said: "It has already been agreed that Owen will be going to a residential school, and a school is currently assessing him.

“In the meantime, we are pleased to say we have agreed a temporary residential placement for him today to tide the family over until he is able to go to the school, which hopefully will be within the next month."

Mrs Burns said: “It’s going to make all the difference. As a parent obviously I love him with all my heart and I wish I could cope with him but I can't. Admitting that I can’t cope with my son anymore is the hardest thing I have had to do in my life and it breaks my heart. He’s my son and I love him and I want to see him as often as I can but it will be far easier in a controlled environment.”

One incident she had to cope with involved Owen attempting to climb out of the car window whilst travelling at 40mph along a busy dual carriageway after unbuckling his seatbelt.

Another time Owen escaped onto the railway track at Stoneleigh Broadway where he narrowly avoided serious injury.

Mrs Burns said: “They turned the rails off but only after Owen was running towards us on a track.

“On the other track a fast train was coming.”

Now Mrs Burns has called for more help for parents with autistic children.

“There’s not a lot out there for parents with autistic children and there are more people like me out there than you might think."

Caroline Hattersley, head of information, advice and advocacy at The National Autistic Society (NAS), said: “Without the right support, autism can have a profound effect on individuals and their families.

“The world can seem bewildering to people with autism causing them high levels of anxiety and stress which can result in challenging behaviour.

“But every child with autism is different, so it’s vital that families are supported to make the decisions that are right for them and meet their child's individual needs."

You can contact the charity's community care service or receive impartial, confidential information, advice and support about autism, by calling the NAS Autism Helpline on 0808 800 4104.

For more information visit autism.org.uk