LONDON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- British researchers said they found no evidence of a link between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine for toddlers and autism.

The findings, published online ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, are based on a community sample of nearly 250 children ages 10 to 12, born from a population of 57,000, between 1990 and 1991 in Southern England.

All the children had been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, but not all of them had been given both doses, the researchers said.

Blood samples were taken to check for the presence of persistent measles infection or an abnormal immune response in two groups of children -- 98 who had an autism spectrum disorder and a second group with some children with special educational needs but no evidence of autism and children developing normally.

Results of the blood sample analysis showed there was no difference in circulating measles virus or antibody levels between the two groups.

Children who were autistic and those with special educational needs were less likely to receive the second dose of MMR, possibly reflecting parental concern about vaccination following the diagnosis of autism or special needs, the researchers said.