JUST weeks after contracting meningitis, little Leah Johnston is playing happily.

The one-year-old girl was just minutes away from death after falling ill with the the potentially deadly bacterial form of the illness in January.

Now she is bouncing with health and along with her big brother, three-year-old Lewis, and parents Alison Macdonald and Paul Johnston, she is to take part in a toddle waddle to raise awareness and funds for the Meningitis Trust.

Miss Macdonald, from Astley Bridge, said: "It was every parent's worst nightmare, it's just something you think will never happen to you.

"Now Leah has made such a fantastic recovery we want to do all we can to make other parents aware of the risks of meningitis and raise as much money for the Trust as possible."

Leah was first taken to the doctors on January 23, when she was being violently sick.

The doctor examined her, but her parents say they were told it was nothing serious and to send her to bed with Calpol.

Later that day Leah, who was just 10-months-old at the time, was still ill and her mother called a doctor out once again, only to be told she was fine.

The following morning there was still no improvement so Miss Macdonald rushed her daughter back to the doctor's, and this time she was told to take her straight to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Miss Macdonald, aged 24, from Astley Bridge, said: "They told us as the hospital that we had been very lucky and that she was only minutes away from death. The staff at the hospital were fantastic.

"They came straight to us and picked her up. I was just screaming that I thought she had meningitis, but they got her on to antibiotics and we just waited. After about 15 hours of her being unconscious, she just sat up and picked up a grape from the table next to her and popped it into her mouth. I can't explain what a relief that was."

Leah will now be one of the tots leading next month's toddle waddle, which will start from the White Horse pub in Stitch Mi Lane, Harwood, on May 13. All the money raised will go towards the Meningitis Trust and Emmerdale star, Sammy Winward, along with her baby daughter, Mia, will take part.

For information about how to get involved contact Natalie Yates on 01204 403800 or Michelle Holding on 01204 300818 or visit www.bolton-toddlewaddle.co.uk.