THE parents of a five-month-old baby who died of meningitis spoke of their fond memories of their daughter this week.

Tracy Morphet, 29, and John Barwick, 31, of Beech Street, Cross Hills said Mia Rose was a happy, cheerful baby who rarely cried, and often woke them up singing and laughing.

She was just starting to sit up and was happy watching her mobile or playing with her favourite toys. John added she used to eat the bubbles in the bath and Tracy remembered her as a "brilliant baby".

When Mia got over-excited and giddy she would get hiccups and John said it was testimony to her character that she had hiccups nearly every day.

But little Mia died of meningococcal septicaemia on April 12 at Airedale General Hospital.

It was precisely Mia's cheerful disposition that alerted Tracy that something was wrong. Mia had had sickness and diarrhoea the week leading up to her death and had just started to pick up on Thursday.

But on Saturday morning she had started whimpering after her morning sleep and was hot, unwell and somewhat limp.

"Because she was such a happy baby, this was out of character," Tracy said. She noticed a blemish on Mia's leg and, using the glass test, checked to see whether it could be meningitis but the mark went away.

Still worried, Tracy and John took Mia to the emergency clinic at Airedale Hospital where medical staff conducted more tests but couldn't find what was wrong.

Mia was admitted to the children's ward where they conducted blood tests which again came out negative. By now Mia was growing weak and she had to be fed on a drip.

It was while Tracy was changing her nappy that she noticed three or four more blemishes, which rapidly turned into seven or eight and it was then that the doctors started treating Mia as a suspected meningitis case and gave her antibiotics.

During the couple's 11-hour ordeal, Tracy said they were just hoping for the best and praying that her daughter would get better.

The blemishes rapidly increased and there was talk of sending Mia to Leeds or Sheffield for further treatment. Mia was put on a life support machine while waiting for the transfer to Sheffield but died before she could be moved.

Her funeral was held at St Andrew's Church on Newmarket Street, Skipton last Thursday. Mia was buried with her favourite crocodile.

Tracy's mother, Kate, said that her daughter and John were excellent parents who did everything they could for Mia.

"As parents they did everything right," she said. "Mia was their only child and I was so proud of both of them."

Tracy and John said they were supporting each other as much as they could, with the help of family and friends.

o Morrisons has once again teamed up with the National Charity Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories to draw attention to the important symptoms of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.

An awareness trailer was due to be positioned outside the store in Broughton Road, Skipton, yesterday (Thursday), and will remain there for three weeks.

Wallet sized symptoms cards and leaflets answering the most frequently asked questions will also be available from the customer service desk and baby changing room.

"With over 640 cases of all forms of meningitis provisionally recorded in England and Wales in the first 13 weeks of this year, it is vital that parents stay vigilant", said Nicola Fisher, from the Laboratories.