A teen blinded after medical errors at Mayday Hospital won a £900,000 pay-out and a full apology this morning.

Capriese Rennie, 16, is completely blind in her left eye and has only 10 per cent vision in her right after suffering a rare haemorrhage in November 2002.

London's High Court heard how staff at Mayday Hospital in London Road, Thornton Heath, initially diagnosed swelling on Capriese's forehead as a hair-follicle infection.

But despite her vision deteriorating alarmingly between November 7 and 8 medics delayed carrying out a CT scan and referring Capriese to a specialist ophthalmologist.

Capriese's mum, Janet Taylor, said by the time they were referred to St George's Hospital, Tooting, it was too late.

"When I was told that Capriese's sight loss was irreparable I just wanted to die. I didn't know how I was going to cope with a disabled daughter who was just about to be a teenager. I didn't know how Capriese was going to cope," she said.

She added: "It's not been about the money, although we can use that to help Capriese, it's been about the hospital admitting that they did something wrong. And although I've had this apology I'm still very angry."

Ms Taylor expressed her gratitude to her solicitors Ali Malsher and barrister Leslie Keegan of Anthony Gold Solicitors.

Capriese, whose art work won her a highly commended title in the Young Art London 2007 I Wish Exhibition, is now studying maths, English, art and childcare at Dalton College, Kent.

The teen says she has been inspired by the college's radio station to consider a career in radio broadcasting.