Two children from north Essex have been struck down with meningitis.

A seven-year-old boy from Ramsey Primary School, near Harwich, was seriously ill in hospital last Monday but is now recovering.

An eight-year-old boy from Millfields Primary School in Bowe Road, Wivenhoe, was expected to be transferred to Colchester General Hospital after receiving treatment at Addenbrookes Hospital.

Both boys have been tested for meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial strain of the virus, but the results will not be available until next week.

Dilys Patten, headteacher at Ramsey, said the school's year two pupil was on the road to recovery.

She said the youngster - who has not been named - was off school with flu when he rapidly became more seriously ill.

Last Monday, the health authority informed the school that the boy was seriously ill.

Mrs Patten said: "We swung into action immediately and sent letters to parents. We were very lucky because our little one hadn't been in school for two weeks.

"We were told he was very ill indeed - it was terrible. But then on Tuesday we had the good news that he was on the road to recovery."

Mrs Patten said only immediate family of the child or anyone who had stayed the night at his home would be given antibiotics.

She said the boy's mother had phoned and was "over the moon" that he was recovering.

Mrs Patten added that the incubation period for the illness was now over and the school was very thankful no other children had been infected. She praised the other parents for the way they handled the situation.

"The parents were concerned but they have been marvellous and haven't kept the children away. They have kept coming to parties and Christmas plays."

Other pupils sent their classmate get well soon cards and presents.

A representative from the infectious diseases clinic visited Ramsey school to talk about meningitis and Mrs Patten said staff were relieved to hear there should be no long term effects.

Letters were also sent to parents of children at Millfields Primary School at the beginning of last week after the pupil was diagnosed as suffering from meningitis.

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