A BROMSGROVE teenager who was left brain-damaged after a hospital blunder has been awarded £3.25m compensation.

Wayne Heathcote, now aged 13, was severely brain-damaged when he was accidentally given six times the recommended dose of a drug. He was being treated as a baby at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham.

A High Court judge yesterday approved the settlement, which covers the cost of his continuing care and treatment.

Mr Justice Field upheld the award after hearing Wayne was given an overdose of the drug Argi9 by doctors at Good Hope when he went to the hospital for tests in 1988.

The hospital admitted liability in 1999, and has now apologised for the distress caused to Wayne and his father James.

Geoff Scaife, chief executive of the Birmingham and Black Country Health Authority said he hoped the cash would secure Wayne's future care.

"We would like to offer our sincerest apologies for the treatment which caused Wayne such serious injury," said Mr Scaife.

"We are pleased we have been able to agree an amicable financial settlement.

"We appreciate money can never put right what went wrong, but we hope the settlement will help to provide a secure future for Wayne's care and well-being."