THE family of a six-year-old meningitis victim today warned parents to be on their guard after revealing that he became seriously ill just hours after symptoms appeared.

Michael Turner, whose friend at Abbey Village Primary School, David Merry, also has the bug, was recovering in the Royal Preston Hospital today.

Michael's grandfather Brian Turner said it was only because of his sharp-eyed mother that he was treated in time.

Michael, of Bury Lane, Withnell, first complained of a headache and aching limbs on Thursday.

His mum Katherine at first gave him Calpol but spotted the telltale meningitis rash when she took off his top.

She pressed a glass to the tiny bruise-like spots to see if they turned white and called her doctor when they didn't.

Staff advised her to take Michael to the Withnell Health Centre and he was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital later the same day. Mr Turner, who lives next to the school on Park View Terrace, said: "It hit him so quickly. He was soon very poorly and he got worse during the journey to the hospital."

Michael's parents Katherine and Martin stayed with him at the hospital throughout Thursday night as his condition worsened.

Mr Turner said: "For a while, we did fear the worst."

But yesterday, Michael was well enough to sit up in bed and play with toys.

Mr Turner said parents should be warned how quickly the disease can act and be on their guard.

He said: "Michael was treated straight away and luckily he was caught in time."

David Merry, who sat at the same desk as Michael at the Bolton Road school in Abbey Village, also showed symptoms of the same type of meningitis, believed to be the B strain, on Thursday. He is still in Booth Hall Hospital, Manchester.

David, of Bolton Road, Abbey Village, was described as critical but stable on Saturday.

All children at the school have been offered antibiotics by the South Lancashire Health Authority and families have been given advice about symptoms.

Symptoms are a severe headache, fever, a rash which does not turn white when pressure is applied, stiff neck, eyes that are hurt by light, vomiting and drowsiness.

Very young children can be off feeds, cry inconsolably and are not comforted by being cuddled. The National Meningitis Trust can be contacted on 0345 538118.