A REDNAL mum, who has campaigned tirelessly in the name of vaccine victims, has been honoured with an MBE, writes Paul Francis.

Olivia Price, of Malcolm Grove, said she was "surprised and delighted" to win the award in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

"I deal with the Government in my campaign and my first thought when I saw the envelope from the Prime Minister's office was that I had done something wrong," said Olivia. "It was a real shock when I read the letter. I never expected this."

Olivia has spent more than 20 years on her campaign and has won extra compensation for more than 1,000 children. She took up the cause in 1983 after her own daughter, Melissa, was brain damaged by whooping cough vaccine at six months.

Now aged 29, Melissa has the mental age of a child and needs constant care.

Like other victims, she had a one-off payment of £10,000, but it wasn't until 2000 that the Government agreed further pay-outs of up to £67,000.

"I'm still fighting after twenty years," said Olivia, who wants the Government to join pharmaceutical companies in setting up a fund for victims.

"The campaign really took off when Richard Burden, the Labour MP for Northfield, backed me. Now there are cases from Europe and as far afield as Israel."

Olivia said she would be taking the group's vice-chair, Yvonne Bye, and secretary, Pat Child, with her to pick up the award and share in the moment.

"They deserve it just as much," she said. "It has been time-consuming with a lot of heartache and tears, but the successes have made it very worthwhile."