A young mum has told how her daughter's life was saved by medical staff on a ward which needs £600,000 to be spent on refurbishment.

Sarah Webster's daughter, Olivia, spent a week fighting for life against meningitis on the children's ward at Airedale Hospital, Steeton.

"Staff saved her life. If it wasn't for them, she would not be here," said 25-year-old Mrs Webster, a technical instructor who works in the hospital's physiotherapy department.

Olivia, now one, was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary in January, after doctors at Airedale diagnosed her with meningococcal septicaemia.

She was put on a ventilator for a week, with her parents keeping a bedside vigil throughout.

Olivia was then transferred to Airedale Hospital for a course of antibiotics, but was still very poorly.

But unlike at Leeds, Mrs Webster and her husband Andy who are now separated had to take turns sleeping overnight on the ward. She said: "All they had at Airedale was a single bed next to the cot so we had to take it in turns to stay overnight.

"It was very difficult for us both to leave at night because she was very ill.

"The ward is just not modern enough. The staff do a terrific job they saved her life but the place is too old and there needs to be facilities for both parents to stay, especially when children are critically ill."

Mrs Webster, of Styveton Way, Steeton, is backing the children's unit appeal, which was launched in September 2005 to raise cash to refurbish the 30-year-old unit.

The aim is to upgrade the sleeping facilities for parents, improve the kitchen and to re-decorate the unit.

So far £100,000 has been raised by the Friends of Airedale and Airedale New Venture. Another £500,000 needs to be found by July next year.

Karen Walker, a matron for children's services, said the unit was almost as it had been when the hospital was built.

"The idea is to re-configure the 30-bed ward to enable us to improve the short- stay facilities for parents," she said.

"At the moment parents have to sleep at the side of the cot on a chair which folds down.

"The place needs redesigning to make the whole experience more comfortable for them so that both parents can stay.

"There are times when, if a child is terminally ill, the whole family wants to be there."

In a bid to boost the fund, organisers are challenging youngsters to paint a picture of their favourite month, to be included in a 2007 calendar.

The submission should also include a 20-word statement on why they had chosen the particular month.

The aim is to sell the calendars to raise cash for the fund.

Mike Yates, appeals co-ordinator, said: "This project is a community one to which the public is responding magnificently.

"But if we are to achieve the target, people will need to keep on being generous."

For an entry form write to The Voluntary Services Department, Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, BD20 6TD.

e-mail: clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk