AS another North-East family claimed their child has been damaged by the MMR vaccine, solicitors say the overall numbers of claimants continues to grow.

Liam Amberfield, from Toft Hill, County Durham, was allegedly injured after being injected with a defective batch of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine nine years ago.

He is just one of more than 2,000 children allegedly damaged by defective vaccine whose parents are suing four vaccine manufacturers, including more than 40 from the North-East.

According to specialist medical negligence lawyers, Alexander Harris, the numbers are "growing daily", fuelling public fears about the overall safety of the MMR vaccine.

The vaccine makers deny liability and are defending the test case, which may not begin until the end of 2003.

While the Department of Health stresses that the vaccine is safe, many parents are so concerned at alleged links between the vaccine and autism that they are choosing not to have their children immunised.

This week, a writ was issued in the High Court by Freda Scott Amberfield, of Toft Hill, on Liam's behalf.

It says that Liam suffered undisclosed personal injuries and other losses after being injected with the triple vaccine on October 13, 1993.

Liam is one of a growing number of children from all over the UK who claim they were given vaccines which were defective, and as a result they suffered a variety of injuries. Some suffered blindness and brain damage and other serious problems after being vaccinated.

In Liam's case, the writ claims that Liam's injuries were caused by the company's negligence and breach of statutory duty in researching, manufacturing, testing and developing the vaccine.

Liam's injuries are also blamed on the company's sale, supply, marketing, surveillance and evaluation of the vaccine, and on negligent misstatements to promotional organisations over the sale and prescription of the drug.

A spokeswoman for Alexander Harris, the Manchester law firm which is co-ordinating the action, said: "People are still coming forward on a daily basis. Our firm alone acts for just under 1,000 individuals and we have heard from 3,000 sets of parents."

Ann Coote, a founder member of the anti-MMR vaccine support group Jabs, said she was not surprised that the numbers suing the vaccine manufacturers continued to rise.

"Every day we get calls from parents who fear that their child has been damaged," said Mrs Coote, from Bolton.

Her daughter Rachel, 14, developed epilepsy and learning difficulties after receiving the MMR vaccine.

She urged parents to visit the www.jabs.org.uk website.