MORE than 20 Sussex families plan to sue five pharmaceutical companies for hundreds of thousands of pounds claiming their children were left with a form of autism after being given measles, mumps and rubella jabs.

A total of 570 families from across Britain have been granted legal aid to proceed with the actions.

They claim the three-in-one MMR vaccines given to their children left them with a range of complaints including bowel disorders and autism, which leads to problems with social interaction and communication.

The joint action is thought to be the biggest ever launched in a British court.

Christine Brown, of Twyford Gardens, Durrington, Worthing, is suing for at least £50,000 after her son, Nigel, 11, developed a form of autism. He was given the jab at 16 months.

She said: "He went from being a normal happy baby

into a different person. He was ill the day he had the injection and wasn't well for another two weeks.

"I knew there was something wrong with him from the age of three and took him to doctors and psychiatrists who told me I was being neurotic or blamed his upbringing." Nigel was diagnosed with a form of autism last summer and now his mother has issued a High Court writ against SmithKline Beecham plc and SmithKline and French Laboratories Ltd.

A spokesman for Smith-Kline Beecham said the company would defend proceedings and said there was no evidence linking its vaccine to autism or bowel disorders.

Isabella Thomas, of Crespin Way, Brighton, and of Jab South East, a support group set up by worried families, is also taking legal action

claiming sons, Michael, seven, and Terry, five, developed a form of autism after the jabs.

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