Students and teachers at Rastrick High School are to pay tribute to a pupil who died of meningitis during the summer holidays.

The school is to create a "peace garden'' in the grounds for pupils to enjoy in memory of Katie Paine, 16, of Long Fallas Crescent, Rastrick.

And sixth form students plan a show before Christmas to raise funds for the National Meningitis Trust.

Katie died in July of meningococcal meningitis - the most virulent strain of the illness - within 24 hours of returning from a two-week holiday in Majorca with family friends.

Her devastated parents, Alison and John Paine, and 18-year-old sister Victoria, are trying to come to terms with their loss.

Mrs Paine revealed that Victoria would receive bereavement counselling at Newcastle University, where she is studying accountancy.

Wendy Moffatt, head of upper school at Rastrick High and Katie's English teacher, said: "Katie was a special person who was caring, thoughtful and well-liked by everyone who knew her.

"She had a wonderful sense of humour and brightened up a room just by being there.

"Katie wanted to be a children's nurse and I think she would have been brilliant in such a job because she loved children.''

Katie had passed ten GCSEs and was looking forward to returning to school to study for her A levels, she said.

Mrs Paine said her family had been overwhelmed by the support from Katie's friends and staff at the school and, in particular, the numerous letters and poems sent to them.

She said: "Any fundraising which will help people become more aware of meningitis is a wonderful tribute to Katie's memory. More than £2,000 has been raised so far from donations in lieu of flowers at Katie's funeral.

"It has been shared between the intensive care unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, which has bought a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring machine for use by patients and the National Meningitis Trust.''

On Monday, October 19, the trust is visiting the school with a mobile information unit at 2pm to raise public awareness about meningitis.

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