Teachers wrongly accused of assaulting pupils should be given better protection, a Northern Ireland union has argued.

Members of the Ulster Teachers' Union backed calls for improved support from employers for anyone facing allegations of improper conduct.

The should also be assumed innocent until proven guilty, said the union.

In addition, ministers face calls to allow those proved to be innocent of all charges to claim compensation from the accuser, a change also made earlier this week by the NASUWT.

However, the Ulster Teachers' Union went further, warning that it will advise members not to undergo training in the use of "reasonable force" against pupils likely to endanger themselves, other pupils or school property, for fear of leaving themselves vulnerable to claims of assault.

"We are talking about false, malicious allegations that can be made against teachers," said president Sally McKee.

"Once an investigation is started, a teacher's name can be in the public domain, and there are members of the community who will immediately find a teacher guilty before an investigation can be carried out.

"These can be allegations of assault, of sexual abuse.  They can range from minor allegations to very serious allegations.

"We certainly do not want to protect any teacher who has acted in an unprofessional manner.  What we are calling for is a basic human right for a teacher to be innocent until proven guilty."

McKee revealed that she herself had been the subject of a false allegation.

"Although I was completely vindicated by the investigation, it was a very stressful situation," she said.

"We have all heard of cases in the public domain where teachers' careers and lives have been ruined and yet at the end of the investigation they have been found to be completely innocent."