COURAGEOUS Sammy Forrest has regained conciousness and is trying to say her first words since being struck down by the killer bug meningitis.

Her parents, Sharon and Phil, of Central Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, have been holding their little girl on their knee in the intensive care unit of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury. They have kept a bedside vigil for the last 11 days.

The three-year-old is now off life support machines and was expected to be transferred to Queen's Park Hospital, in Blackburn, later today.

Her grandmother, Mrs Vera Herdman, said: "It's wonderful. A few days ago I would not have thought it was possible. It's hard to believe after what she has gone through."

Mrs Herdman and her husband are staying at the family home looking after the other two grandchildren.

A father told today how his daughter was struck down with suspected meningitis within a matter of hours.

Melissa Wright, six, was expected to be released from hospital today after responding well to treatment for what is thought to be the potentially lethal virus.

And a third child from Melissa's school, Whalley Primary, is also being treated for the bug, it was revealed today.

Melissa's father, Stephen, 36, of The Crescent, Whalley, said today: "She's responded very well to treatment and we hope she'll be home today. "It started off with flu symptoms but then quickly developed. As soon as a rash appeared we got her to the doctors and he called an ambulance straight away.

"The rash started out as blotches but they quickly turned to lumps.

"All our family and the people we have been in contact with have been given antibiotics.

"I hope parents will now read some of the leaflets available advising of what symptoms to look out for in case their child is struck down. We think we've been lucky to catch it quite early."

Melissa has two sisters, Rhian, five and Lauren, 10, who have shown no signs of the virus.

Two six-year-old boys from the same school were also taken to hospital with suspected meningitis.

All three children were treated for the common meningococcal septicaemia strain of the bug and are responding well to treatment.

Doctors were today waiting for test results from the public health laboratories in Manchester.

Dr Stephen Morton, East Lancashire's director of public health, said: "All three have been responding well to antibiotics.

"At this stage we are still waiting for test results back to see if it is meningitis and if so, what strain it is."

Several teachers have also been treated with antibiotics along with 24 pupils who were in the same class.

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