A MAN has been awarded damages of £1m following a hospital's mistakes at his birth 27 years ago.

Anthony Louca, a chef's son from Middlesbrough, was born premature at the town's Carter Bequest Hospital in September 1979.

His mother Marilyn was left alone by the midwife soon after he was born and he developed problems before he was transferred to Middlesbrough Maternity Hospital.

There were fears for his life and he was christened when he was only four hours old. Despite suffering convulsions the hospital allowed him to go home after two weeks.

He has never been able to work because of short-term memory loss and hearing difficulties and he has a care worker who takes him out.

Today, after his mother's 13 year legal battle, he was awarded £1m agreed damages in the High Court in Middlesbrough from the County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority.

*Read The Northern Echo on Saturday for the full story.