The BBC's Matthew Hill: "The most costly group settlement for any single hospital"

The NHS Litigation Authority, which oversees claims, has declined to discuss individual figures but it is thought each family will receive �20,000 plus legal costs.

A public inquiry into the deaths of 29 babies between 1988 and 1995 is due to open on Tuesday.

Jessica Gibbons died after a heart operation

Steve Parker, of the Bristol Children's Heart Action Group, said compensation cases were started with the aim of getting answers from the hospital authorities.

He said: "The most important thing for the parents is to get at the truth.

"Money cannot compensate for the loss of a child but there is a pressing case emotionally and financially for many families which have broken up over the tragedy."

"People need money to rebuild their lives," said Mr Parker.

Last year Consultant James Wisheart and Dr John Roylance, chief executive of the hospital trust, were both struck off the medical register.

The General Medical Council found they had continued to operate on babies and young children despite high death rates.

A third consultant, Janardan Dhasmana, was banned from operating on children for three years and was later dismissed.

Specialist centre

Bristol Royal Infirmary was one of nine centres across the UK which specialised in heart operations for children.

Between 1988 and 1995 Mr Dhasmana carried out 38 arterial switch operations. In 20 of the cases the child died.

Mr Wisheart performed 15 atrio-ventricular septal defect operations between 1990 and 1994. Nine of the young patients died.

Consultant Janardan Dhasmana was banned from operating

Concerns were raised by the victims' parents and by some of the hospital's staff.

Eventually, in June 1998, the GMC found Mr Wisheart, Mr Dhasmana and the trust's chief executive, Dr John Roylance, guilty of serious professional misconduct.

Dr Roylance and Mr Wisheart, who had both retired, were struck off and Mr Dhasmana was banned from operating on children for three years.

Further compensation claims, which could cost the trust millions of pounds, remain in the pipeline.