A MOTHER who believes her son was left severely autistic by the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab is suing its manufacturers in a landmark case.

Mandy Brunskill said her nine-year-old son, Liam, was born a "normal, healthy and bright little boy", but deteriorated rapidly after his MMR vaccination and was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two.

She has now joined families around the country in filing a writ to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court against the vaccine makers, American firm Merck & Co Inc.

She is claiming damages of at least £50,000 for personal injury to Liam.

The Department of Health and the World Health Organisation are adamant there is no link between MMR and autism.

But Mrs Brunskill, of Clifton Moor, York, said Liam was developing normally before his vaccination.

Part of the evidence, which could be used in the case, is a video of him at his christening at ten months old.

Mrs Brunskill said: "He can be seen using strong eye contact and passing a rattle backwards and forwards.

"But after his MMR he became poorly, listless, unattentive and unresponsive to anything.

"He stopped making eye contact and deteriorated rapidly to a diagnosis of severe autism just months later. It took us years of training for him to know who we were.

"We always wanted a son, but he is not the son that he set out to be."

However, her solicitor has warned that it could be years before the case is heard, as it is being preceded by a group test case against the same company.