THE FAMILY of a young mother who died in mysterious circumstances following a routine operation has been given £200,000 compensation.

Mother-of-two Nicola Pinnegar was just 20 when she died after surgery last June.

The asthmatic woman had a simple operation to have gallstones removed but collapsed hours later. She died the following week. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust involved did not accept liability for the death of Nicola, from Thornaby near Stockton.

But it agreed to pay £200,000 to Nicola's mother, Christine who is looking after her two grandchildren.

Christine says she still wants a full explanation about how her daughter, who had a history of epilepsy and asthma, died.

The Trust paid out the cash just days before a planned negligence hearing in front of a judge.

Dr David Scoones, a pathologist, told an inquest into Nicola's death, that she died of brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

However he said that evidence that an attack or fit led to her death was inconclusive. Coronor Michael Sheffield recorded an open verdict and said it was a mystery what had caused the brain damage.

A spokesperson for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust said: "We wish to express our sincere regret ini relation to the circumstances surrounding Nicola Pinnegar's death at North Tees General Hospital in Stockton.

"And we would like to say how very sorry we are to Nicola's family, especially the chidrden, for the stress and pain that has been caused.

"While there was no admisson of liabillity we are pleased that an out-of-court settelment has been reached and hope this will go some way towards helping Nicola's family to come to terms with their tragic loss.

"We are doing what we can to address Mrs Pinnegar's outstanding queries .

The issues are, however, complicated and Mrs Pinnegar's concerns would probably be best addressed by a meeting with us."

Mrs Pinnegar's solicitor, John Hall, said he hoped the trust would now improve monitoring of respiratory patients.

Nicola died in June 1998 and leaves Leon, ten and eight-year-old Leah-Marie.