A Worthing doctor who blamed failures on the part of fellow practitioners for his wife's death from cancer, has been given £310,000 compensation.

Ian King says he is relieved the High Court case is now over and is concentrating on caring for his children.

In a statement, Dr King said: "I have endured a great loss. The damages will help with looking after the children but no sum can adequately compensate the loss of a wife and mother.

"Paula would feel vindicated to some extent by the fact the award has been made in the absence of any admission of liability."

Paula King died from cervical cancer at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on August 18, 2000, leaving Tobias, 11 and Sophie, eight.

Her husband claimed staff at Worthing Hospital and a senior surgeon who examined her at the private Goring Hall Hospital in Worthing, should have spotted signs of cancer earlier.

Dr King, of Pevensey Road, Worthing, sued the former West Sussex Health Authority and the surgeon, claiming damages for the impact the loss of his wife had on his family.

The health authority and the surgeon deny all liability for Mrs King's death but agreed to settle Dr King's claim for £310,000 at the High Court in London yesterday.

Giles Utley, for Dr King, told Mr Justice Bell it was his case that staff at Worthing Hospital "failed to report cervical smears as abnormal, which they should have done, in 1989 to 90".

He said: "Subsequently, when she went on to develop invasive cancer, the surgeon failed to diagnose it.

"If he had done so, she wouldn't have died when she did. Mrs King was gravely ill for some time and a substantial part of the claim was for her suffering and nursing care."

He said the main part of the settlement would go towards replacing the "maternal services" Mrs King had given her children.

A spokesman for the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority, which took over from West Sussex Health Authority in April this year said: "The Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority would like to express their sympathy to Dr Ian King and his children for the sad loss of Mrs Paula King.

"The settlement of the claim made by Dr King has been amicably agreed without the need for a trial. Everyone wishes the family well in the future."