The parents of a toddler who died from cancer has secured a five-figure out-of-court settlement from two hospital trusts.

Mackenzie Cackett, four, died in May 2012 after battling brain and spinal tumours.

His parents Danielle, 32, and James Cackett, 36, of Juniper Close, Halstead, have argued ever since that doctors should have spotted the tumour more quickly.

Colchester Hospital and Addenbrooke's in Cambridge, where he was treated, have now reached an out-of-court settlement with the family and admitted the original tumour should have been detected earlier.

Trainee teacher Mrs Cackett, who is also mother to 16-month-old April, said she wished she and her construction worker husband had challenged doctors at the time and urged other parents to learn from the tragic case.

"In our minds we will always think 'what if?” she said.

“It's hard not to be angry.

"He wasn't given the best fighting chance and that's something we have to live with.

"There's a lot to be said for a parent's instinct. I think we knew deep down that something was wrong, but we trusted the doctors."

The couple were represented by law firm Slater and Gordon in a civil action against Colchester and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts.