A girl who went blind after doctors failed to spot a brain tumour has been awarded £1.5 million in compensation.

Tatum Rock, now 16, went into King George Hospital in Essex after banging her head in a fall in 1999.

She had X-rays, but was sent home when the radiologist missed a large brain tumour. Although the condition came to light four months later and she had corrective surgery, it was too late to save her sight.

An investigation revealed that had the X-ray been read properly, the victim would have had surgery immediately and her sight would most likely have been saved.

Tatum took legal action against Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which has now admitted liability for the misdiagnosis and agreed to the payout.

Hospital bosses apologised for the failings and wished Tatum well for her future at university.

Research from Imperial College London recently revealed that as many as one in six NHS patients are being misdiagnosed by either GPs or hospital staff.