PARENTS at a private nursery school in Darwen are being told not to panic after a four-year-old girl contracted the killer virus meningitis.

The youngster is said to be responding well to treatment in hospital. Her immediate family have been treated with antibiotics.

Letters were sent out to parents of all 80 pupils who attend Les Enfants Nursery in Avondale Road informing them of the case, which was reported on Friday morning, along with details of symptoms.

The meningitis team at Communicare NHS Trust are now monitoring the nursery.

Nursery principal Kevin Cookson said: "We have been told it is an isolated case and all the other children are fine.

"Our main concern was to keep parents informed and we did this as soon as we found out about it.

"Everybody has been very calm and all the children have arrived for nursery as usual. We have been getting regular updates on the little girl's progress."

A spokeswoman for Communicare added: "The four-year-old girl is doing very well. All the necessary action has been taken by the meningitis team with regards to the nursery."

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