A BOY who was left severely disabled after being starved of oxygen at birth won a substantial compensation payout yesterday.

Stanley Hider, of Constantine Grove, Colburn, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, was awarded the money for his future care in London's High Court.

He appeared in court in a wheelchair with his parents, Alison and Michael.

The court heard that the seven-year-old was starved of oxygen for 25 minutes when he was born at the Central Middlesex Hospital, in West London, on July 19, 1996.

As a result, he suffers from athetoid cerebral palsy.

Through his mother, he sued the hospital's managers, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, which yesterday agreed to the settlement of his case without making any admission of liability.

His counsel, Alan Gore QC, said the case had raised much controversy and Stanley's damages had been discounted by about a third to take account of litigation risks.

Mr Paul Rees QC, for the NHS trust, said it was accepted Stanley had suffered his injuries at some stage during his mother's labour, but precisely how that happened remained a subject of dispute.

Describing Stanley as a very determined character who plainly has a good intellect, the barrister paid tribute to his parents for the love and care they had given him since his birth.

Mr Rees said of the settlement: "We hope it will give new hope to Stanley and to all those who love him, reassurances and comfort for the future. We do wish him well for everything that the future brings."

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Buckley said the compromise was a fair and just one.

He said, faced with the trust's continued denial of liability, it had reflected the risks of litigation.