DOCTORS told a mother to prepare for the worst after her toddler was struck down with a deadly form of meningitis.

Donna Gill, of Swanlow Lane in Winsford, took 14-month-old Joshua Mellor to her doctor after discovering a rash on his neck.

Joshua then went to Leighton Hospital where his condition deteriorated after his first dose of antibiotics.

"We were told to prepare ourselves for the worst," said Donna, 27.

"When he was in his hospital bed it was the worst week of my life." Donna first noticed Joshua was in discomfort on April 20 when he became irritable and did not want to be touched after he went to bed.

She spotted the red mark after getting up at 8am to get ready for work.

Disappear "I did the glass test and the mark wouldn't disappear," she said.

"I rang the doctors and got an appointment at 8.30am where they rang through to the paediatrician at Leighton who suspected bacterial meningitis." Joshua was treated with his first dose of antibiotics almost immediately but his condition deteriorated before it began to improve.

Doctors told Donna that bringing Joshua in an hour later could have been fatal.

"It was horrendous to see him in so much pain," she said.

"He was linked to a lot of machines and it was not very pleasant to watch."

Donna and Joshua's dad Darren Mellor, 37, were treated as a precaution and health bosses ordered them to destroy Joshua's bedding and mattress.

Donna said that Joshua was now absolutely fine but doctors were not sure if he would suffer in the future.

She said: "There is a chance he could suffer from possible deafness but we won't know until he goes for further checks."

He might have to wear a hearing aid, but I haven't seen a change in his development or his speech."

This week Donna praised staff at Leighton Hospital for saving her son's life.

"They were absolutely fantastic, the nursing staff, doctors, everyone," she said.