A DISABLED eight-year-old boy has been awarded £2.1m compensation after a hospital blunder left him brain damaged at birth.

Carl Farthing, from Stockton, Teesside, was born by caesarian section in December 1992 after unsuccessful attempts at a forceps birth.

The High Court, sitting at Newcastle, heard how the delay in his delivery caused him to be born with cerebral palsy.

His parents, Neil Farthing and Sandra Whitehouse, began proceedings against North Tees Hospital in October 1998. A year later, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust admitted liability.

His barrister Andrew Lewis said: "He has a happy lifestyle, bearing in mind his condition."

Mr Justice Holland wished Carl "the very best for his future".

Donald O'Rourke, the family's solicitor, said: "Carl is extremely disabled and will need life-long care. The award will mean his needs will be fully catered for."

He said Carl was a lovely little boy who had been left physically and intellectually impaired.

"His parents will never get over what has happened. It is something they are going to grieve about for the rest of their lives," he said.

Mr O'Rourke described them as quite exceptional parents.

The case is the second in a few days to involve a North-East family claiming compensation for a brain-damaged cerebal palsy victim.

But on Wednesday, the mother of Louise Wood, 11, from Newton Hall, Durham, was unsuccessful in a multi-million pound damages claim when medical staff at Durham's Dryburn Hospital were cleared of negligence in Louise's case.

Only last month, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists called for an extra 1,300 consultants to be appointed to improve the quality of care during childbirth.

At the time, Peter Bowen-Simpkins, of the RCOG, said: "Junior doctors are on wards to train, they should not be left to make difficult decisions they are not qualified to make. That is the job of consultants."

A spokeswoman for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust said: "We are pleased for the family that the case has been resolved and a settlement agreed. We are extremely sorry for what has happened and for the distress that has been caused. We would like to pass on our sincerest apologies to the family."