Meningitis strikes two boys at same nursery

A child has died and another from the same nursery was taken to hospital after both contracted meningitis.

The parents of three-year-old Hector Kirkham, from Lancaster, their “gorgeous, cheeky, happy boy”, who died in hospital on March 27, are now urging other parents to look for signs of the disease.

Public Health England said it was working closely with the Little Learners Nursery in Lancaster, following the death of Hector, who had contracted meningococcal disease group B. The other child has been discharged from hospital.

It added that the risk of another case at the nursery is very low.