A Banbury girl struck down with the deadly meningitis bug received life-saving hospital treatment just 20 minutes after her mother called their GP.

Susan Collis said the doctor's swift response saved four-year-old Ellie Rose's life.

She became worried when her normally lively daughter felt unwell during the night and was too weak to dress herself the next morning.

She called the Woodlands Surgery, in Burchester Place, Grimsbury, after Ellie fell asleep on the way to school.

She was feverish and aching.

Mrs Collis said: "She slept all the way to Hook Norton Primary School and home again.

"I took her to bed. When I took her clothes off I noticed a slight rash on her neck and arms."

Dr Nicholas Allison arrived at the family's home within 10 minutes. Ten minutes later, Ellie was at The Horton Hospital.

Mrs Collis said: "He had a good look at Ellie and then he just whisked her away. He went with his instincts and his reaction was very quick."

Ellie was immediately treated for meningitis but two days later she suffered a second bout of the disease.

Mrs Collis said: "She was covered all over with the rash. If they hadn't been treating her, God knows where we would have been. We're fortunate to have such good doctors."

Ellie, who had been vaccinated against the disease, was confirmed to be suffering from meningococcal septicaemia -- one of the most serious forms of the disease.

It causes a swelling around the brain and spine, accompanied by blood poisoning.

After five days in hospital she was allowed to go home.

Her parents, brother Connor, seven, and 11-month-old sister Isobel were put on antibiotics as a precaution.