A SEVEN-year-old Mal-vern girl has died of suspected meningitis.

Emily Rose Davidson, a pupil at The Grove Infants School, fell ill at her Mountbatten Road home on Friday.

Dr David Kirrage, consultant in communicable disease at Worcestershire Health Protection Agency, said meningitis was suspected, but not confirmed.

"The immediate contacts of this young girl have been treated with antibiotics but we do emphasise that other children at the school she attended and friends she played with are not at any greater risk," he said.

Emily's mother, Lizzie, said she took her daughter to the Court Road Surgery in Malvern but was sent home.

She later phoned the NHS helpline because she was still worried but, after talking to a doctor, was told to ring again in the morning to report her daughter's progress.

She said the characteristic rash parents are told to look for in meningitis did not develop until after she died. She is calling for an inquiry into the advice she was given.

The head of the school, Margaret Lynch, paid tribute to a "delightful little girl".

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to the grieving family. She was bubbly, bouncy and a sweet little soul," she said. "She loved music and just liked playing with her friends, she was a very social little girl and very lively."

Pupils were told of Emily's death at an assembly on Monday afternoon. They have been making cards to give to the parents.

There are also plans to build a memorial at the school.

A meeting of parents and health officials took place at the Grove on Tuesday night to assure parents there was no need to panic.

An inquest was opened and adjourned on Wednesday, following an autopsy that failed to confirm the cause of death. More tests will now be carried out.

Julia Warren of the Meningitis Research Foun-dation, said parents should make themselves aware of the symptoms of the disease.

"It must be absolutely devastating for the family and we are seeing it too much," she said. "Until we have a vaccine that prevents all forms our best defence is awareness."

The Meningitis Research Foundation operates a free 24-hour helpline, which provides support and information about the disease on 080 8800 3344.

Five people from the Malvern and Ledbury area died from meningitis in 1990 and two in 1991.

There have been around 30 cases per year in Worcester-shire and 3,000 a year nationally.

Emily's funeral is at Worcester Crematorium at 2.30pm on Monday, July 14. Donations are invited to The Meningitis Trust.