The parents of a four-year-old girl, who believe her death was due to a hospital error shortly after her birth, are fighting for compensation.

Paul and Kim Broadbent are also seeking an apology from the hospital following the death of their daughter Danikka.

Last week Mr Broadbent, who has nine other children, put up 10ft by 5ft protest banners in the car park of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where Danikka was born prematurely on January 7, 1997, weighing just 1lb 5oz.

Despite being threatened with arrest by police, he stayed there for six hours.

Danikka's medical records show she was given a massive fluid overdose after being born prematurely by caesarean section.

On her fourth day, Danikka was given 37.5ml of fluid an hour instead of the 3.75ml she should have taken. The liquid flooded her system, causing a lung haemorrhage. To cure her, her tiny lungs were suctioned and ventilated for 90 minutes.

But her parents believe that irreparable damage to her lungs led to her death last November after causing her to suffer bouts of pneumonia throughout her short life.

Mrs Broadbent, of Barnstaple Way, Holme Wood, said: "She was in and out of hospital for the first two years of her life. She was always dependent on oxygen. But she was active, lively and always singing."

In the last few weeks of her life, Danikka could not shake off pneumonia. She finally died on November 21 at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford.

Self-employed Mr Broadbent was a wagon recovery driver but once Danikka was born he spent most of the time by her side.

"We have all suffered. It has cost me my livelihood and my marriage," he said.

The hospital's solicitors, Crutes, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, have offered the couple £5,000 compensation which they refused as an "insult". In a letter, Crutes wrote: "It is clear that the fluid overload that Danikka sustained in January 1997 due to a medical error fell below an acceptable standard of care and is likely to have given rise to pulmonary haemorrhage requiring treatment.

"For this error we are instructed to offer an apology for the pain and distress caused."

However, the letter went on to say that three medical experts supported Crutes' view that the fluid overload was not the cause of Danikka's "continuing problems".

A spokesman for Calderdale and Huddersfield Trust, which runs Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, said: "The Trust has every sympathy with Mr and Mrs Broadbent and their family on the sad loss of Danikka. We have been involved in a legal action with the family and our respective solicitors have investigated the issues thoroughly with the aid of expert medical advice. We hope the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of both parties as soon as possible."

The Broadbents also put in an official complaint to Leeds General Infirmary where Danikka was taken for treatment in July 1998. They claim she was given ten times as much morphine as she was supposed to have. Mr Broadbent said he was left alone in a corridor with his baby at 3am and had to massage her chest for 20 minutes to keep her breathing.

A statement from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The matter was the subject of a formal complaint which was fully investigated. Danikka's treatment was also the subject of a legal action and the trust has done everything it can to assist the family and their solicitors in their investigations."