CEREBRAL palsy sufferer Christopher Eyre who faces a lifetime of devastating disability after his premature birth, has won a compensation deal worth millions at London's High Court.

Christopher, 11, was born eight weeks prematurely at the former Princess Margaret Hospital on October 21 1993.

Surgeons brought him into the world using forceps after two earlier attempts to deliver him by ventouse extraction had failed.

He suffered grave complica-tions over ensuing days in the hospital's special care baby unit and was left severely brain damaged.

The hearing heard that forceps should have been used earlier in the operation.

Complications that can lead to brain damage arose when he had a condition called bilirubin encephalopathy too much bilirubin produced by the liver is toxic in newborn babies.

A victim of quadraplegic cerebral palsy, he cannot speak, suffers cognitive impairment and will always remain dependent on the care of others, his counsel, Mr John Grace QC, told the court.

Through his mother Beverley, Christopher, of Castlefield Close, Eastleaze, sued the hospital's managers Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority who agreed to settle his claim.

Mr Grace told Mr Justice Owen the Authority would pay Christopher a £1.1 million lump sum to act as a contingency fund, along with periodical payments of £90,000-a-year until he is 19, rising to £122,000-a-year there-after for as long as he lives.

All the payments, which will be dedicated to covering the enormous costs of Christopher's care, will be index-linked.

The QC told the court: "One cannot avoid paying tribute to the qualities demonstrated by Mr and Mrs Eyre.

"Looking after Christopher has not been easy and Mrs Eyre has given up her career to look after him.

"It has not been a life of unmitigated joy, however Christopher is a happy young man and that reflects well on his parents".

Defence counsel, Miss Christine Lambert, expressed the health authority's very best wishes to the family and said anyone involved in the case could not fail to be moved by the dedication and love shown to Christopher by his parents.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Owen said: "Christopher is a child with a sunny nature and, to a considerable degree, that is due to the unstinting care give to him by his parents over the years."

He expressed his strongest sympathy and admiration for the sacrifices the couple had made and told them they would now have the considerable reassurance that Christopher's financial future is secure.

Trevor Jones, who is the chief executive of Avon, Gloucester-shire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority said: "We would like to express our deep regret at the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christopher who suffers from cerebral palsy.

Proceedings commenced in July 2003 and we are pleased that the parties have agreed a settlement of this claim.

"We hope this settlement will make life easier for Christopher and his family and would like to offer them our best wishes for the future."

Mrs Eyre and Christopher's father Gary declined to comment after the brief hearing.

Ben Payne