An eight-year-old pupil at a Bradford school needed hospital treatment after contracting an infection suspected to be caused by the bug which leads to the most serious form of meningitis.

The child, who attends Thornton Primary School, was well enough to be discharged yesterday after suffering possible meningococcal disease, but will continue taking antibiotics for the next three days.

The case come just three weeks after the death of a seven-year-old pupil at Clayton Village Primary School.

The child, thought to be a boy, died on Friday, June 29, after falling ill with suspected meningitis. The school closed for a day as a mark of respect.

Yesterday letters were sent to parents whose children attend Thornton Primary School, in Thornton Road, informing them of the health scare, but no one at the school was prepared to comment on the case.

Jennie Sadowskyj, principal education officer for Bradford Education Authority, said: "The letter went out, advising parents what was happening at the school.

"The Year Three child is now at home but is still receiving further antibiotics. Bradford Health Authority has advised us that there is no reason to close the school and no other children at the school have been given antibiotic treatment.

"The illness has not been confirmed as meningitis and the fact that the child has been sent home suggests it is not as serious as first thought."

Bradford Health Authority was notified yesterday that the eight-year-old, who has not been named, had been admitted to hospital suffering from suspected meningococcal disease.

Dr Ruth Gelletie, Bradford's consultant in communicable disease control, said: "Meningococcal disease is rare and most patients recover.

"Close contacts of the child have been given preventative antibiotic treatment.

"When a suspected case is reported to the health authority we liaise with the school concerned and they pass on information to parents. I would stress that any further cases are extremely unlikely."