Pensioner Edwin Watson who suffered catastrophic brain damage when he was struck by a car as he used a leaf blower outside his home in Mawnan Smith in 2013, has had his financial security guaranteed for life.

The car's driver, Veronica Chegwidden, was not wearing her glasses at the time of he accident and was later convicted by magistrates of driving with uncorrected eyesight and was given a conditional discharge, ordered to pay £75 costs and had her driving record endorsed with three points. Mrs Chegwidden, of Shute Hill in Mawnan Smith, died before Christmas, aged in her 90s.

Mr Watson, 78, now needs 24-hour care as a result of the accident which led his family to seek compensation at the High Court.

Although Mrs Chegwidden's insurers admitted "primary liability" for the accident, they said she was on her side of the road and travelling slowly before the collision.

But a judge in London has this week approved a settlement of Mr Watson's case, which will see the costs of his care covered for the rest of his life.

Mr Justice Foskett said: "If ever there was a case of momentary inattention transforming lives, this is it. Whose momentary inattention was the primary cause of this accident has been the subject of dispute. Each of them may have been somewhat to blame, but no one will ever know."

Robert Weir QC, for Mr Watson, said he is looked after at home by two professional carers "at some considerable expense."

The judge said it was a tribute to Mr Watson's family that he had made a limited recovery and could be cared for at home.

Mr Watson, who has been married to Carol for 52 years, took legal action through his daughter Kathryn Stivey, but "for much of the time, he is distressingly uncommunicative."

Describing the case as a "terrible tragedy", the judge said the settlement was in Mr Watson's best interests. Although the court heard that Mr Watson will receive a lump sum to pay for his care, the detailed terms of the settlement were kept confidential.

A statement released to the Packet by Mr Watson's children, Chris Watson and Kathryn Stivey, said: "No amount of compensation will cover the pain and suffering that dad has endured during the past four plus years. We cannot believe that it has taken this long to reach settlement and that the whole case has caused untold stress for the whole family.

"Dad’s life was taken on that day in October 2013 and nothing will ever make that right."