TWO six-year-old school friends were today seriously ill after contracting meningitis.

Michael Turner and David Merry, of Abbey Village Primary School, were taken to hospital after showing symptoms of the meningitis B strain.

David, of Bolton Road, Abbey Village is described as 'critical but stable' at Manchester's Booth Hall Hospital and Michael, of Bury Lane, Withnell, is stable at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Michael was believed to have woken up on Thursday complaining of a headache and a rash. It was only the quick action of his mother, Katherine, in taking him to Withnell Health Centre that saved him.

Michael was taken to Chorley Hospital before being transferred. Both sat next to each other in school.

Parents have been sent a letter informing them of the outbreak but some chose to keep their children at home yesterday despite advice from Dr Kenneth Lamden, consultant in public health medicine at South Lancashire Health Authority.

Simeon Brierley-Stuttard, whose daughter Jessica is in the same class as Michael and David, said many parents had kept their children away.

He said: "In the class it seemed half the children were not there. But the letter issued by the school and health authority was very reassuring. My daughter was only immunised against meningitis C four weeks ago, but there is nothing we can do against meningitis B." Many pupils were brought back in the afternoon as everyone at the school was given the Rifampicin antibiotic by the health authority and further advice was given to parents to look out for symptoms.

Dr Andrew Howe, public health doctor at South Lancashire Health Authority said: "When there is a single case of the disease the immediate family is given the antibiotic but if there are two then we have to look at given antibiotics to a wider population -- it is purely a precautionary measure.

"There are a number of different strains of meningitis including A,B,C and W135. A vaccine against the C strain was developed last year but nothing has been developed for the others.

"The difference between the strains is the genetic make up, one is not more lethal than the other and it does not depend on the age of the person as to whether the disease is stronger or not."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The school has acted on advice from the health authority which is the correct procedure.

"We will wait and see if there is anything more that can be done."

Headteacher Lilian Grounds has refused to comment on the matter.

But parents bringing their children to Abbey Village School for antibiotics yesterday said they were worried about the scare but praised the way the school handled the situation. Sharon Brierley-Stuttard, said: "I really feel for the families, both are great kids and I hope they pull through. The school has handled the situation really well and they could not have been much quicker in getting antibiotics to the pupils.

"It is really worrying because when you hear the word meningitis you think the disease is contagious but it is not."

Her daughter, five-year-old Jessica said: "I know both Michael and David and I hope they get better soon."

The symptoms of meningitis 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, drowsiness and in very young children they can be off feeds, have inconsolable crying and are not comforted by being cuddled or hugged.

Meningitis B is a fairly common strain of the disease and has a higher death rate than meningitis C, the most common form.

In most cases is treated if recognised early enough. The National Meningitis Trust can be contacted on 0345 538118.