A mother has spoken of her relief after a long court battle resulted in £3.5 million damages for her brain-damaged son.

Joanne Capper says the money awarded to ten-year-old Zak will make major improvements to his care.

Zak was born with brain damage at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in 1991 after his mother suffered a "catastrophic" nosebleed shortly before his birth.

In a statement, Mrs Capper said: "It was regrettable this ever happened. I was treated with indifference by hospital staff and left in a corridor for three hours virtually unattended.

"It was described by our health advisers as a deplorable standard of care.

"Now the case has reached a successful conclusion, Zak will be able to have the equipment and professional care he needs."

Mrs Capper, of Caledonian Road, Brighton, has been devoted to caring for her son.

The High Court approved the payout for what Mr Justice Curtis described as a "terrible case."

An interim payment for Zak, who has severe cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic, has already bought him a modern bungalow just outside Lewes.

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority has admitted liability.

A spokesman said: "We have expressed our regrets to Mrs Capper about what happened and are pleased the settlement has now been agreed.

"We pay tribute to the care shown by Zak's mother."