A mum whose daughter died from blood poisoning has welcomed the news a vaccine against a form of meningitis will be introduced in the UK.

Andrea Walker, who lives in Riddlesden, lost her three-year-old daughter Ellie on January 14 last year.

A post-mortem examination and initial tests failed to establish the cause of Ellie’s death but it was eventually put down to streptococcal septicaemia.

Mrs Walker has applauded the announcement the Department of Health has recommended the meningitis B vaccine Bexsero is introduced as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

Bexsero is designed to provide a level of protection against the highly aggressive meningitis B bacterial infection, which can cause permanent disability and sometimes death.

Department of Health advisors have stated the vaccine should be added to the NHS childhood immunisation schedule for infants.

Mrs Walker said: “I’m so pleased this is being recommended after what happened to me.

“If parents are reluctant to have their children vaccinated I would advise them to do it. I don’t want the same thing happening to them as happened to me.

“It would have been too late for Ellie but other lives can be saved.”