THE parents of four-month-old Aiden Smith face a year of torment after a nurse gave him the controversial MMR jab by mistake.

Aiden had been due to have a routine meningitis jab when a nurse picked up the wrong vaccine.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine he got is normally given to babies over a year old and has been linked to autism and bowel disease.

His parents, Julie-Anne Smith and John Wright, only found out about the mix- up when their GP arrived at their home in Kilmarnock and admitted what had happened.

Health chiefs launched an inquiry into the incident at the town's Old Irvine Road Surgery but Julie- Anne and John vowed to take legal action.

Julie-Anne, 23, said: "Aiden has been ill ever since he had the injection and now I'm frantic with worry."

Just after he received the jab last month, Aiden's temperature soared and he was admitted to Crosshouse Hospital. Julie- Anne said: "One of the doctors said it was probably to do with the jab because it was a live virus and his wee body couldn't handle it."

Her solicitor, Neil McPherson, added: "It will take a year to determine if any side-effects, including autism, take effect."