The Meningitis Trust - the UK's leading meningitis charity - has issued a New Year warning to Lancashire residents.

It asks people to be vigilant of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning).

Meningitis is an infectious disease that can kill within hours and leave sufferers with severe after-effects including brain damage, deafness, and cases of septicaemia, even loss of limbs.

Education and training manager Sarah-Jane Smallpage says, "In winter months we see more cases of meningitis and septicaemia.

"Worryingly, the symptoms can appear like other less harmful conditions, so we're asking people to err on the side of caution, to learn the signs and symptoms and seek immediate medical attention if you suspect the disease.

"Early symptoms of meningitis can easily be mistaken for flu; they include fever with cold hands and feet, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright light, drowsiness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and in some cases a rash which doesn't disappear under pressure.

"Symptoms can appear in any order and may not all appear at once. It can affect people of all ages."

The Meningitis Trust produces a wallet-fitting card showing the signs and symptoms of meningitis in babies and adults.

For your free card, call the Meningitis Trust's 24-hour help line on 0800 028 18 28.

Visit the trust's website at www.meningitis-trust.org.