A toddler who nearly died from a rare form of meningitis has become the youngest child in England to have cochlear implants in both ears.

Doctors battled to save Kyle Overington as the disease ravaged his tiny body and at one stage brought him back to life after his heart stopped beating.

The 18-month-old, from Shoreham, was left with severe brain damage and total hearing loss.

Now he has had cochlear implants in both ears. The small, complex electronic devices bypass damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve.

The family's ordeal began in January when Kyle, then 11 months, became violently ill with vomiting and a fever.

His mother Sandra was told he was suffering from a stomach bug but when his condition worsened she called an ambulance and he was taken to Worthing Hospital.

Doctors realised Kyle had pneumococcal meningitis and decided to transfer him to London immediately.

Sandra said: "It was a terrifying experience. Me and my mum had to follow behind in the car because there was a full medical team in the ambulance with him.

"When we got there the doctors told us if he hadn't been there he wouldn't have lasted another six hours."

Sandra, 25, and her other son Ricco, three, moved into special accommodation for six months so they could be by Kyle's bedside at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London, part of Guy's Hospital, until he was strong enough to return home.

He needs round-the-clock care because he has a tracheotomy to enable him to breathe and it must be cleared constantly or he will choke.

Looking after Kyle is such a time-consuming responsibility Sandra has had to send Ricco to live with her mother Dee Woods in Lancing for the time being.

Although she knows he faces great challenges, Sandra is optimistic about Kyle's future.

Medical experts feared the youngster would never be able to walk but, to the delight of his family, he has begun to crawl.

She said: "The doctors were really shocked when I told them he was crawling about. I think he will learn to walk because he's been pulling himself up on furniture and trying to stand up."

Kyle's implants have been inserted under the skin behind his ears.

Sandra said: "Now he has the cochlear implants fitted he can hear again, though not in the same away as the rest of us. He has been having lessons twice a week and has started to make sounds.

"He's coming along really well and everyone's pleased with his progress."

Now she hopes to raise enough money to create a sensory room at the family home in Middle Road to continue Kyle's recovery.

She has organised a fair which takes place today at the Rectory House Nursing Home in West Street, Sompting, and all money raised will go towards buying equipment.