A North Yorkshire mum claims her son's life has been ruined by the MMR jab he received when he was 15 months old.

Marion Copeland, from Pickering, says Craig, now 16, developed the symptoms of autism within days of receiving the jab.

"He will be like this for the rest of his life, all because of this jab," she said.

Despite recent controversy, Government health chiefs maintain the jab is safe.

"I don't believe that at all," says Marion. "Craig was fine until he had the injection. His behaviour changed dramatically within days of receiving it.

"He started shutting himself in rooms on his own and wouldn't talk.

"It was very upsetting because he doesn't like to be hugged. It's very difficult not being able to hug your own little boy."

By the time Craig was four Marion had to put him into a special school in Scarborough.

"The doctors and health visitors kept telling me he was just a shy boy and he would grow out of it," said Marion.

"It wasn't until he was ten they finally diagnosed autism.

"My older son Nicholas, who is 17, was given separate jabs and he is fine, as is my 14-year-old daughter Lisa, who was given MMR. I understand girls are less likely to develop autism."

Craig is now completely dependent on a daily routine which revolves around his mum.

"He gets back from school and has to watch TV for two hours. Then, come rain or shine, he goes into the back garden and walks around a toy for an hour," she says.

"He has a bath at 9pm. If I'm not there or the routine gets broken he gets very upset."

Marion had one piece of advice for parents: "Don't let your children be given the MMR jab. The separate injections seem to be far safer."

The Department of Health said: "Based on all the scientific evidence available our advice remains that there is no link between MMR and bowel disease and autism and that it is safe."

Updated: 11:02 Saturday, February 09, 2002