THE parents of a boy left with severe learning difficulties after he was starved of oxygen at birth have won a £400,000 payout.

Melanie and Mark Willis received the compensation at a High Court settlement in London yesterday to help pay for the care of their 15-year-old son, Chad.

However, the family, from Bishopsgarth, in Stockton, said the money was only the first stage in their fight for a multi-million pound payout from County Durham and North Tees Valley Health Authority.

Chad suffered a hypoxic brain injury after he was starved of oxygen during his birth at North Tees General Hospital, in Stockton, in 1990.

As a result, he developed major learning and behavioural problems, which have led to him needing around the clock supervision and specialist care.

His mother, who gave up her job to look after Chad, has suffered long periods of sickness due to anxiety and depression.

She said: "With a disability, there is always something you need and it is very costly, so this is great news.

"I am so pleased that at last Chad is going get the money to pay for the support and care he needs to improve his life.

"However, the fight for full justice goes on and we look to a future time when Chad receives the full compensation he deserves."

Chad's injuries mean he is prone to aggressive outbursts and suffers from memory loss, as well as finding it difficult to concentrate and speak.

Some of the payout will go towards therapy, including a specialist case manager. The majority of the cash will be used to move to a larger house, after health experts advised the family their current home was too small.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the health authority ratified the payout after the authority previously admitted liability.

John Davis, of Newcastle legal firm Irwin Mitchell, said: "The Health Authority admitted liability in May 2003, but no interim payment had been obtained by the previous solicitors.

"I am delighted for the family. This will go a long way to improving the family's quality of life and we will continue in the fight to obtain a final compensation payout to ensure Chad gets the long-term care he needs and deserves."