An eight-year-old boy left brain damaged after being starved of oxygen at birth has been given £2.8 million damages.

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority agreed compensation with the parents of Harry Chapman from Brighton at the High Court.

Harry has cerebral palsy and has been severely disabled since his birth at Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, on March 10, 1993.

The settlement, approved by Judge Simon Hawkesworth, QC, came suddenly on the second day of what was expected to be a lengthy trial. The authority has also agreed to pay legal costs.

Speaking today through their solicitor, Kevin Smyth, Harry's parents, Paul and Shirley Chapman, said: "Harry's case was stopped halfway through the second day of the trial, leading to a substantial sum paid in damages.

"As a result, his family will now be better able to care for his many needs, care and general wellbeing in the years ahead."

Mr and Mrs Chapman also have a ten-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.

The family has recently moved from Carden Avenue to a new house in Brighton, which is better adapted to suit Harry's needs.

In the High Court yesterday, Harry's barrister, John Leighton-Williams, had told Judge Hawkesworth that the authority had agreed to pay the child 94 per cent of a full valuation of his claim but disputed the amount of money due to him.

Mr Leighton-Williams said: "His birth was handled very badly in a number of respects, which unfortunately left him brain damaged."

He said despite his disabilities, Harry was an "active, alert and interested" boy.

Harry needs round-the-clock care and his lawyers said his pay-out should be in the region of £3 million, including damages to cover the cost of his past and future care and lost earnings.

Harry's mother is a senior nurse who turned down several promotions so she could care for her son and now only works part time.

Her husband, a builder, has also been forced to change his hours to look after Harry.

The court was told Mrs Chapman went to the Royal Sussex on March 8, 1993, with back problems when she was 38 weeks pregnant and then had difficulty giving birth.

After a failed attempt at delivery by vacuum extraction, Harry was delivered with forceps and had to be resuscitated after suffering birth asphyxia.

At an earlier High Court hearing in 1999, the health authority agreed to pay compensation without any admission of liability.

It heard Mrs Chapman had asked doctors to carry out a Caesarean delivery but they decided an attempt should be made at a conventional birth.

The authority said hospital staff had not been negligent and there had been no medical reason for an elective Caesarean.

In a statement today, the health authority said: "A substantial financial settlement has been concluded by the health authority in respect of the sad events surrounding Harry Chapman's birth.

"Liability in respect of Harry's injuries was resolved in 1999 and since that time, solicitors for Harry's family and the health authority have been investigating Harry's past and future costs and needs.

"The health authority believes the settlement will provide Harry and his parents with sufficient funds to provide care and a comfortable lifestyle for the whole of Harry's life."