The family of a man shot dead by a Sussex Police officer has won damages from the force.

James Ashley was killed while naked and unarmed at his Hastings home on January 15, 1998.

The officer who fired the fatal shot, PC Chris Sherwood, was tried for murder and manslaughter and acquitted.

Last year his family won the right to sue Sussex Police for negligence.

But today lawyers for the family have accepted a compensation settlement for an undisclosed amount.

A statement from Sussex Police, agreed by the family, said: "Sussex Police has admitted negligence and has reached a settlement with members of Mr Ashley's family.

"This involves the payment of compensation and making an apology.

"Sussex Police wishes to reiterate that the death of James Ashley was a tragedy which should never have occurred and that it was caused by a series of failures at different levels of Sussex Police in relation to events prior to the raid and its planning and execution.

"Sussex Police also acknowledges that there were serious shortcomings in the way in which the aftermath of Mr Ashley's death was handled.

"The force has not made any admissions that Mr Ashley was unlawfully killed.

"PC Sherwood has always maintained that he acted in self defence; he was acquitted of the charges of murder and manslaughter in the Crown Court.

"Sussex Police therefore repeats its previous apologies to the Ashley family for the loss of Mr Ashley and the subsequent events.

"The force has learnt significant lessons from this tragic event."