A four-year-old girl was today guaranteed a multi-million pound payout at London's High Court.

Rosie Snell was born at Watford General but was left needing 24-hour care for life after oxygen starvation in the womb left her severely brain damaged.

Rosie, now living in Fernleys, St Albans, was born at Vicarage Road hospital in October 2004, but suffers from severe cerebral palsy after being starved of air before her delivery by Caesarian section and is now profoundly handicapped.

Through her mother Joanne, Rosie sued the hospital's managers, the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, claiming medics had failed to monitor her progress in the womb and should have ordered an emergency Caesarian sooner.

The trust denied liability for Rosie's injuries and a four-year legal tussle ensued, with Mrs Snell and her husband Richard, a self employed builder, fighting for the money they need to provide Rosie with the care and facilities she needs.

Today, before Mr Justice Jack at London's High Court, while still denying blame, the trust agreed to settle the issue of liability on the basis of 90 per cent of a full valuation of Rosie's claim.

The deal guarantees Rosie massive compensation for her injuries. Her payout likely to be several million, will have to cover the costs of her care and accommodation throughout her life.

Benjamin Browne QC, for the trust, told the judge: "There is no admission of liability on the part of the defendant. However, I am instructed on their behalf to express their enormous regret for the tragic injuries suffered by Rosie at her birth.

"These injuries were at the maximum severity end of the scale of cerebral palsy injuries.

"They have imposed a formidable burden on her family and the care she has received has been no less than remarkable. We would like to pay tribute to what they have achieved".

Rosie's solicitor told reporters outside court: "This means Rosie's parents can have the security of knowing that her needs will be provided for, for the rest of her life.

"They are utterly devoted parents and now have the security of knowing she will get the funds for the 24-hour care and all the necessary equipment she needs."

The exact amount of Rosie's damages will be assessed at a later court hearing.