A SPECIAL assembly is to be held in memory of a six-year-old Redditch girl who died from meningococcal meningitis during a holiday in Devon.

A funeral service for Danielle Senior, of Chedworth Close, Church Hill, was due to take place at 12.30pm today at Redditch Crematorium.

Danielle was a popular pupil at Moons Moat First School and headteacher Catherine Shearwood spoke yesterday of how her fellow pupils had reacted to the tragedy.

She said: "We are planning a special assembly in school when we'll sing some songs and plant a tree in the courtyard so we can all remember Danielle.

"We are very proud of the children here - they have responded in a very thoughtful way in what has been a very sad time."

Mrs Shearwood added: "They have been very calm and the children in her class have drawn some pictures and written letters.

"They have responded in their own way."

A collection has been set up at the Cleeve Close school in aid of the Meningitis Trust, to which Mrs Shearwood said parents had responded very well.

She said: "We'll also be having a stall in aid of the trust set up at our school summer fete on Friday."

Mrs Shearwood will be attending the funeral with Danielle's class teacher and the chairman of governors.

She said: "We are still very much thinking of the family and will support them in any way we can."

Danielle's family has asked for any donations to be made to the Meningitis Trust.