Twenty children raised in care are reported missing every day in Scotland, new data has shown.

A total of 7598 missing persons investigations involving looked-after and accommodated children and young people were recorded in 2017-18.

This is up by 355 (5%) on the year before, according to statistics revealed by Freedom of Information.

Of these cases, 6441 (85% of the total) involved children at a young persons' residential unit - 589 more than in 2016-17 and a rise of more than 10%.

Lanarkshire recorded the highest number of investigations at 1217, which is a rise of more than 50% on 2016-17.

It is followed by the Lothians and Scottish Borders on 893 (up 7%), excluding Edinburgh which recorded 875, a reduction of around 45%.

Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who campaigns to improve outcomes for looked-after children, obtained the Freedom of Information figures.

She said: "These figures are simply staggering, and they should concern everyone.

"Looked-after children are our children - the state is their parents - and we all have a responsibility to give them the same opportunities as every other youngster.

"If your child was missing, you'd move heaven and earth to find them and then ask why and what could be done differently.

"These are our children and they should expect that same response."

The Lothian MSP added: "Residential units must be a place where children are nurtured and loved, as they are often brought up there after years or emotional or physical abuse.

"I urge the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to investigate why these numbers are so high and examine what more can be done to support care-experienced young people."

Police Scotland pilot projects for young people who go missing have taken place in Lanarkshire, Dundee and Edinburgh, with the outcomes currently being evaluated by Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS).

Almost two-thirds of people who go missing in Scotland are young people, and in a majority of cases do so intentionally, with some becoming serial runaways.

Most who choose to go missing do so because they feel unhappy or unsafe in care or in their homes.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Young people are by far the most common age-group to go missing (64%) and we are working with Police Scotland, local authorities and care providers to reduce these incidences.

"We have already provided £142,000 to the Missing People charity (2016-19) to increase awareness and use of their support services including their 24-hour helpline, textsafe facility and telephone counselling service.

"Police Scotland pilot projects with looked after-children have shown that better outcomes can be achieved when the young person is involved in their care plan.

"This allows the young person to feel greater ownership and understanding of why an action they may take will result in the care provider or parent taking subsequent decisions, such as reporting them missing."