HUNDREDS of children were kept away from a Runcorn primary school by worried parents on Monday after two children were taken to hospital suffering with meningitis.

Woodside Primary in Halton Lodge was opened on Saturday to allow children from the Reception class - the class which the ill children attend - to receive preventative antibiotics.

Despite reassurances given by Health experts, the attendance was down on Monday, although Tuesday's attendance figures had climbed back to more normal levels.

The mother of one Woodside pupil, Yvonne Garner, said she would be keeping her nine-year-old son away for the time being.

She said: "I'm keeping him off for a month because these cases are too close together."

Woodside headteacher Irene Keogh said that attendance had been lower than usual on Monday, but she hoped that things would get back to normal as time passed

"I fully understand parents' concerns about meningitis but ther Health Authority has advised me that children are not at risk by being in school."

Tests were carried out on the two youngsters, a boy and a girl, to confirm if they were suffering from the meningococcal strain of the disease. The results are expected this week.

Both children are recovering from their illness, with one having already been released from Warrington Hospital.

All Reception pupils received drugs, with staff from the Health Authority and Meningitis Merseyside on hand to give advice to worried parents.

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