A GWENT family is suing a hospital trust for more than £300,000 claiming surgery carried out by two disgraced surgeons left their daughter severely brain damaged.

Marianne Loretta Telles, 20, of Bala Drive, Rogerstone, underwent heart surgery when she was three days old at Bristol Children's Hospital.

The surgery was carried out by James Wisheart and Dr Janardan Dhasmana, who were both severely criticised during a public inquiry into the high rate of baby deaths at the hospital between 1991 and 1995.

Now Miss Telles' mother Anna Redman, who was a witness at the inquiry, has issued a High Court writ against Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority, which is responsible for the hospital.

Miss Telles was left with a severe neurological injury following three operations for her heart condition at the hospital in 1985 - the first when she was just three days old.

At least 29 babies and toddlers died and four were left with brain damage after complex heart surgery by the two surgeons at the hospital between 1991 and 1995.

The General Medical Council (GMC) ordered a public inquiry into the hospital's high death rate in 1999 following an investigation and Mrs Redman provided written evidence at the hearing.

The GMC hearing found surgeons James Wisheart and Janardan Dhasmana, guilty of serious professional misconduct. Mr Wisheart was struck off the medical register. Mr Dhasmana was banned from operating on children for three years.

Miss Telles suffers from behavioural difficulties and epilepsy and will have to remain on medication for the rest of her life.

A spokeswoman for the Avon, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority said: "We don't have any comment to make at this stage."

l The family was unavailable for comment as the Argus went to press.