The parents of little Ty Brown took the youngster to South Tyneside District Hospital in agony after he came home from playing on a pal's trampoline.

But instead of giving him an x-ray, doctors sent him home with cream for a nappy rash.

When he was still in pain the next morning, mum Vicky took Ty to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where doctors gave him an x-ray and put him in a cast, fearing a hairline fracture.

The tot is expected to return next week for further checks.

Miss Brown, 21, from Arnold Street, Boldon Colliery, said: "Ty had been playing on his friend's trampoline and seemed fine. But after we walked home and he sat down, he couldn't get up again.

"Every time I touched his foot he was pulling his knees into his chest and screaming. I knew something wasn't right.

"The doctors noticed he had a slight nappy rash, so he was given some cream and that was it."

Ty, who turns three next month, was then sent home without any pain relief and spent a sleepless night in agony before being taken to Sunderland.

She said: "I'm still furious. For a whole night he was in agony and upset, and there was nothing I could do.

"The next morning we took him to Sunderland Royal Hospital and it was a completely different story."

Miss Brown said: "I'm just so angry that an x-ray wasn't taken right away. Surely it should be compulsory for children like Ty. They're not old enough to talk properly yet and explain their problems like adults.

"Thankfully he's coped well with the cast and he's back to being the rough and tumble kind of boy he is.

"But I'll never be able to forgive the hospital for what they put him through."

Hospital bosses today stood by their treatment of Ty.

Ian Frame, executive director of personnel and development, said: "Ty was seen by a paediatric doctor who undertook a thorough examination but there were no signs of any injury requiring an x-ray.

"He was also co-incidentally given treatment for a nappy rash which was noticed by the doctors concerned and which would have been causing discomfort."

Mr Frame added: "When Ty was discharged, clear advice was given to his parents to bring him back if his symptoms persisted and had they done so it is very likely that an x-ray would have been done at that stage.

"It is important to follow very strict guidelines in the use of x-rays to ensure that patients are exposed to as little radiation as possible and only where absolutely necessary.

"In reviewing Ty's care, senior doctors have agreed that based on his initial symptoms, the doctor's assessment on the day he came to A&E was reasonable."