A FAMILY have spent the festive season in mourning after a loved one was struck down by the killer bug meningitis.

Brian Hoyle, 30, right, never recovered after being discovered vomiting and delirious by his sister Donna on the bedroom floor at the house where he was staying in Addison Close, Blackburn.

Now health workers have contacted people who were in contact with Mr Hoyle in the days before he was taken ill and are considering offering them vaccinations.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary but never regained consciousness and his life support machine was switched off four days later.

Medics confirmed he had been suffering from the worst strain of the bug, meningitis C.

Tom Howard, Brian's late mother's former partner, also of Addison Close, Blackburn, said: "This sort of thing is bad at any time of the year, but it is especially devastating when you are expecting to be together for a family celebration.

"Brian's mother died earlier this year, aged just 48, so it has been a very bleak time for us all.

"This bug is vicious - just like a whirlwind. It's a tragedy that it wasn't caught in time. There is a crucial four hour period when is is possible to save a life, but sadly Brian was in the later stages when he was discovered. "I knew meningitis could kill fast, but didn't realise just how fast.

"Brian was under the weather on Friday but he refused to go to the doctors. Hours later he was dying. Other people need to be warned to prevent further tragedies." Brian, a labourer, attended Broadfield School in Oswaldtwistle. He was well known in the area and was a popular family member.

A spokeswoman for East Lancashire Health Authority said they had been informed that Mr Hoyle had been admitted to hospital critically ill with meningitis.

She added that the meningitis team had been in touch with people Mr Hoyle had been in close contact with in the days before he was admitted to hospital.

A requiem mass is being held at St Peter's Church, Mill Hill, on Thursday at 10am, followed by burial at Pleasington Cemetery.

A national vaccination programme for meningitis C started in November and teenagers aged between 15 and 17 are currently being offered the jab. Babies will be given the vaccine as part of the routine immunisation programme in the new year.

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