A mother has won damages after she found some of her son's remains in his Oxford flat following his suicide.

Christine Stevens, 53, said she suffered post-traumatic stress after she went to pick up her son John's belongings from his flat in East Oxford, in July 2003.

Mr Stevens, 32, had suffered from schizophrenia, since he was 17. He committed suicide using a large firework, and Mrs Stevens, now 53, had been told she could collect his personal effects 16 days later.

But the flat in Boulter Street had not been cleaned properly and Mrs Stevens, now 53, was sickened to find some of his remains.

Last night, Mrs Stevens, 53, said: "It was bad enough to lose my son in the way that I did, but what happened when I went to his room made things even worse - it was a total nightmare and I just couldn't believe what was happening.

"I was absolutely devastated to find my son's room in such a condition - no parent should have to suffer that.

"Since that day, I've been unable to get the image out of my mind. I have trouble sleeping, suffer nightmares and flashbacks and have been prescribed anti-depressants by my doctor."

Mrs Stevens, from Adderbury, yesterday accepted an out-of-court settlement for a four-figure sum from her son's landlord, Oxfordshire Group Homes.

Mrs Stevens refused to disclose the precise amount of the settlement, but said she hoped the settlement would help her to move on with her life.

"I wouldn't want other people to go through what I went through," she added.

Mrs Stevens said her husband had been very supportive following her son's death and bought her a Labrador dog called Max, which she enjoyed walking every day, and looked after her late son's cat.

Richard Pell, senior partner at Banbury-based Brethertons solicitors, said: "While we're relieved that Oxfordshire Group Homes eventually agreed to settle this case, preventing further upset to Mrs Stevens, nothing will ever bring her son back.

"Oxfordshire Group Homes owed Christine a duty of care and should have ensured the room was properly cleaned before inviting her to remove her son's belongings.

"The post-traumatic stress caused by their negligence has been long lasting and extremely distressing."

At an inquest, deputy Oxfordshire coroner Dorothy Flood recorded a verdict that Mr Stevens killed himself.

Mary Parslow, a spokesman for Response, formerly Oxfordshire Group Homes, the largest mental health housing provider in Oxfordshire, said: "We regret any distress caused to Mrs Stevens. We did employ a professional company that deals with forensic scenes to clean the room but they failed in their duty.

"We regret that the room had not been checked by a senior manager before Mrs Stevens went to pick up her late son's belongings. Since the incident we have reviewed our procedures."