A child who was born brain damaged after his mother suffered a catastrophic nosebleed was today awarded £3.5 million agreed High Court damages.

Approving the award to ten-year-old Zak Capper, Mr Justice Curtis, in London, said it was a "terrible case".

Zak has severe cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic although his intellect is intact and he is likely to go on to further education.

His counsel, Christopher Hough, said that Zak's mother, Joanne, lost two litres of blood - a third of her capacity - in the incident at Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital before his birth in May 1991.

The "catastrophic" nosebleed led to Zak suffering oxygen deprivation.

Despite his disabilities, Zak had many friends, and enjoyed swimming and playing wheelchair football for Brighton and Hove Albion, said counsel.

He would never lead an independent life and was unlikely ever to work but the damages would provide him with the care and appliances he would need throughout his life.

An interim payment had already bought him a modern bungalow just outside Lewes.

Clare Price, for East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority, which admitted liability, paid tribute to the devoted care given by Mrs Capper, a designer and illustrator, of Caledonian Road, Brighton, and other members of the family.