A five-year-old boy is fighting for his life in hospital after he was diagnosed with a deadly form of meningitis.

The unnamed boy, a pupil at Thomas a Becket First School in Worthing, is in intensive care at a specialist hospital in London after contracting meningococcal septicaemia - the bacterial strain of meningitis that causes blood poisoning.

He was rushed to hospital at the weekend after falling ill and is now said to be making "steady progress" at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London.

The scare comes just weeks after a ten-month-old girl from Lancing died after contracting the same strain of the virus.

And The Argus can reveal it is the seventh case of meningitis confirmed in Sussex in the last three months.

Letters were sent to parents of other children at Thomas a Becket on Monday to reassure them it was safe for children to continue with lessons.

Margaret Brackley, the headteacher at the school in Pelham Road, said: "I am pleased to report that the pupil is making good, steady progress. All the appropriate steps were undertaken to inform parents and agencies in the community.

"Parents were given appropriate support to recognise signs and symptoms and we have kept parents well informed."

The child's immediate family have been given antibiotics to protect them and GPs have been told to be on the alert for symptoms.

Parents are being urged to keep a close watch on unwell children in case they are suffering from the deadly virus.

Meningococcal infection can affect people of any age although it is more common among children and young adults. In England and Wales there are about 1,300 cases each year of which 100 people die.

A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency said: "Surrey and Sussex Health Protection Unit can confirm a five-year-old child was admitted to hospital at the weekend with suspected meningococcal septicaemia. The child is still recovering in hospital.

"Letters have been sent home with pupils from the school to reassure parents that there is no increased risk to other children. Information leaflets have also been sent out."

Outside the school yesterday parents spoke of their shock at the news.

Carolyn Hopkins, 41, of Tarring, Worthing, said the news did not stop her sending seven-year-old son Alex to school.

She said: "We were sent letters on Monday and of course just the word meningitis is enough to frighten any parent.

"Once we spoke to teachers and were given the leaflets I wasn't unduly worried about sending Alex to school.

"My heart goes out to the boy's family. We just hope he is going to be alright."

Sarah Smith, from Worthing, who also has one child at the school, said: "I'm a nurse so I know what the risks are.

"It was a big shock to hear about it but there was no panic involved. Parents were kept well-informed and now know the symptoms to look out for."

The news comes after a Lancing infant died over the new year. She was taken to Worthing Hospital after falling ill and was transferred to a specialist unit at Guy's Hospital in London but later died.

Tests revealed she had contracted meningococcal septicaemia.

Cases of the deadly virus usually occur individually. Symptoms include severe headache, neck stiffness, fever, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion leading to unconsciousness, discomfort caused by bright light, back or joint pains and a rash which does not disappear when pressed.

Babies will sometimes have a high pitched, moaning cry, can be difficult to wake and refuse to eat. Anyone with the symptoms should seek urgent medical advice.

Further information can be found at the Meningitis Trust website at www.meningitistrust.org.uk or its helpline on 0800 0281828.