A boy left with severe disabilities after being starved of oxygen at birth has been awarded almost £3 million compensation by the High Court.

Now the grandmother of James Aston, six, has said the £2.9m awarded to him was a "just" figure.

James, of Longshots Close, Chelmsford, was awarded the sum after a hearing at London's High Court on Monday.

James was delivered asphyxiated at the town's St John's Hospital, in Wood Road, on January 3 1993, the court was told.

He has been handicapped by severe cerebral palsy ever since and depends on the care of his parents, Gillian, 37, and Stephen, 42.

After the case, James's grandmother Edith Aston said the last six years had been "horrendous" for the couple who have three other children.

"It may seem like a lot of money but what happens if something happens to my son? James needs constant looking after and my son is 42 now.

"The money is a just figure because it is nothing when you think about how all their lives have been affected by this," she said.

She said James's mum and dad had spent hours driving him to Sussex and London for therapy.

"They have had a very hard time. It is not easy but when you have three other children to think about it is even harder," she said.

The court heard with his mother acting as his "litigation friend", James had sued the hospital's managers, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, who admitted liability.

And yesterday the youngster's counsel, Margaret Bowron, told Justice Ian Kennedy settlement terms had been agreed.

Miss Bowron paid tribute to the responsible attitude taken by the NHS Trust in dealing with James's case.

Lawyers for both sides will now consider paying part of the £2.9 million settlement figure into a structured investment fund, designed to guarantee James a secure, tax-free and index-linked income for life.

The family, the court heard, is shortly planning to move to a home more suitable for James's needs.

The NHS Trust's counsel, John Gimlette, told the court on Monday: "I express the health authority's profound regret for the events which led to this claim and also our admiration for James's parents and all they have done for him.

"We acknowledge no amount of damages will ever fully compensate James, but we hope this settlement will go some way towards alleviating his suffering. He has our best wishes," added Mr Gimlette.

A spokesman for the NHS Trust said it was pleased the case had reached a settlement and wished the Aston family well for the future.

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