An 81-year-old Norbury woman whose leg had to be amputated after she developed severe bedsores has been awarded a substantial sum in compensation.

Catherine Connolly was rushed to hospital a fortnight after moving to Lancaster Lodge Nursing Home in Wimbledon Village in 1998.

Doctors found she had gangrenous pressure sores on her heels and pelvis, dehydration and diabetes.

Mrs Connolly's daughter, Anne McCready, said: "We were told at one point there was no hope, and she would die, but then they said they might save her if they amputated her leg above the knee.

"But it wasn't just her leg, there were big sores on the bottom of her back too, and they had to be cut out."

Mrs Connolly, who had lived independently before moving to Lancaster Lodge, spent several months in hospital, then a year in a convalescent home before moving to her daughter's home in Norbury.

Her son, Terry, has given up work to care for her during the day.

Six years later, she is still in pain and uses a wheelchair, though she rarely leaves the house.

Mrs McCready said: "Before this happened, my mother was a strong, healthy, good looking woman. Afterwards we could hardly recognise her. She doesn't want to go out because she hates people looking at her."

Parkcare Homes Ltd, which runs Lancaster Lodge Nursing Home, initially denied responsibility, but agreed an out-of-court settlement.

Mrs Connolly was awarded £85,000 for her pain and suffering, as well as money for her future care, the cost of special equipment and building work on the house.

A spokesman for Parkcare Homes said: "Parkcare Homes admitted in 2003 that regrettably there had been failings in the care provided to Catherine Connolly. Since this time there has been a complete review of all procedures at Lancaster Lodge."