A SCHOOLBOY left severely brain damaged when he nearly drowned in a holiday swimming pool has been awarded £2.5 million in damages.

Kevin Roberts of Calf Hey Close, Radcliffe, was just six when the tragedy happened at a Majorcan hotel in July 1993.

Package holiday company Sunworld have finally paid out after a seven-year court battle. The Package Tour Operators Act makes them responsible for the negligent actions of sub-contractors -- in this case the Hotel Jupiter in the resort of Alcudia. Kevin's father, Ray, said: "The money will certainly make a big difference in helping to improve Kevin's quality of life, but obviously we would give anything not to be in this situation in the first place."

The High Court in Manchester awarded damages to Kevin, a pupil at Bolton's Birtenshaw Hall School, after liability was found against Sunworld and the hotel.