A DISFIGURED baby at the centre of a legal row over her medical treatment has been returned to the care of her parents.

Three-month-old Maria Rafi, who was born with half a face, was the subject of court proceedings after her parents, Suzanne Taylor and Aziz Rafi, disagreed with medical opinion and threatened to remove her from hospital.

No one would comment after yesterday's hearing which was held in chambers after all parties involved agreed not to speak publicly.

The baby, who sufferers from Goldenhar's syndrome which affects one in 500,000 births, is receiving treatment at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Hospital.

She faces years of reconstructive surgery for her condition, which left her without her right eye and ear, only half her nose and missing half her right jaw.

Earlier this month, Newcastle City Council and the hospital officials applied for an interim care order which would stop Maria's parents from removing her from hospital.

It is understood that while the parties agreed yesterday that Maria should be returned to the care of her parents, it was decided that, if the authorities again becomes concerned about the baby's welfare, it can take proceedings straight to the High Court without having to go through a preliminary hearing before magistrates.

Before agreeing not to speak to the media, Maria's 25-year-old mother claimed the hospital had been treating her daughter as "an experiment" as the condition was so rare.