A YORK mother who believes her son was left severely autistic by the measles, mumps and rubella jab is suing the makers of the controversial vaccine.

Mandy Brunskill says her son Liam, now nine, was born a "normal, healthy and bright little boy", but after his MMR vaccination at 12 months he deteriorated rapidly and was finally diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two.

Mandy has joined families around the country in filing a writ in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court against the American company Merck & Co Inc.

She is claiming damages for at least £50,000 for personal injury to Liam.

The Department of Health and the World Health Organisation both contend there is no link between MMR and autism, but Mandy, of Lindley Wood Grove, Clifton Moor, said Liam was developing normally before his vaccination.

Part of the evidence which could be used in the case is a video clip of Liam at his christening at ten months old.

Mandy added: "He can be seen using strong eye contact and passing a rattle backwards and forwards with a guest.

"But after his MMR he became poorly, listless, unattentive and unresponsive to anything. He stopped making eye contact and deteriorated rapidly to a diagnosis of severe autism just months later. It took us years of training for him to know who we were."

Mandy, who has a daughter, Amy, 11, said she would never let her children have any more vaccinations.

She added: "The whole family has been devastated and we still are. We just try to get on with our lot. We have gone through every emotion with what has happened to Liam because we always wanted a son, but he is not the son that he set out to be.

"I don't want to scare other parents, but I do want to make them aware of what can happen."

Mandy said she and her husband, Rob, are not concerned about the money. She added: "We just want some answers and some kind of recognition for what has happened to us. We will not be fobbed off any more."

A spokeswoman for Mandy's London-based solicitor, Hodge, Jones and Allen, said the case could take years and that it was being preceded by a group test case against the company.

The first test case, involving eight families, starts next Monday before Mr Justice Bell. Liam's case will follow on from this.

Merck & Co Inc in New Jersey was not prepared to make a comment last night and referred us to its UK arm, Aventis Pasteur MSD. It too was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

The Department of Health's website says that available evidence shows there is no link between MMR and autism.

All the major health organisations in the UK and around the world agree it is the safest and best way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.

Updated: 10:50 Wednesday, December 05, 2001