A profoundly disabled boy has been awarded compensation worth £5.4 million.

Oliver Felton, who attends Chailey Heritage School near Lewes, was left with severe brain damage after the admittedly negligent handling of his delivery at The Royal Surrey County Hospital on Christmas Eve 2000.

In a "particularly tragic case of catastrophic cerebral palsy", Oliver has been affected in all his limbs, has no speech and impaired vision.

He also has complex and distressing gastrointestinal problems, which are getting worse, and his life expectancy has been reduced by up to 25 years.

Mr Justice Gray said that the outlook for the six-year-old might well be bleak, despite the high standard of care provided by his parents and Chailey Heritage School.

The judge, sitting at London's High Court, approved the settlement of the action, which was brought on Oliver's behalf by his father Gary, against The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust.

He said that he had read several statements from Oliver's parents, who live at Highercombe Road, Haslemere, Surrey, which spoke "graphically and movingly" of the calamity which had befallen the family.

"But what impresses me is the marvellous way in which both of them, particularly Mrs Felton, have risen to the challenge and the unstinted devoted care which they have lavished on Oliver.

"He is very fortunate in having two parents like that.

"I hope that now this litigation has been concluded, and happily concluded, the natural feelings of anger and frustration which they have felt in the past may subside, and life on that front may become a little easier for them."

The couple, who were in court with their two older sons, did not wish to make any immediate comment.