THE families of hundreds of children whose organs were retained by a children's hospital received a public apology on Thursday.

The move was part of a deal struck by bereaved parents affected by the organ retention scandal at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Families accepted £5m - about £5,000 for each child involved - in compensation in January.

The settlement reached however, also included the hospital making a public apology, a memorial plaque to the organ retention victims and a donation to charity.

At a meeting in Liverpool between the families, the hospital, the university and the Department of Health, NHS bosses apologised "profoundly".