A teenager left brain damaged after a hospital blunder 17 years ago has won 1.2m compensation at the High Court.

Doctors thought Chloe Hill was dead after suffering oxygen starvation during her birth at the maternity unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

The mistake left her with severe cerebral palsy and totally dependant on her family. She cannot talk, walk or do anything on her own.

But yesterday her parents Stephen and Jennifer, of Temple Cowley, said they would now be able to give Chloe the care she needs after winning a four-year legal battle against Oxfordshire Health Authority. Heating engineer Mr Hill, 45, said: "We are not celebrating. This money won't make Chloe better. It won't give her her lost life back and it won't give us our lost lives back, but it will help us manage more easily in the future."

Chloe was born on September 9, 1982, after midwives broke Mrs Hill's waters without her permission.

Her baby was starved of oxygen for 24 minutes before she was delivered in an emergency Caesarean.

Dinner lady Mrs Hill, 50, said: "When Chloe was born, I felt no anger just a sadness really."

At yesterday's High Court hearing Mr Justice Eady said: "This is a remarkable story of devoted care paid to Chloe over many years by her parents."