Three children from the same family are recovering after being struck down with meningitis.

Scott Harrop, 32, and his wife, Michelle, 35, had a devastating Christmas after two of their children contracted strain B of the disease.

Charlotte, two, spent six days at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Her four-month-old brother Fletcher spent ten days in intensive care and is still recovering in the children's ward.

Their cousin Bradley -- the four-year-old son of Mr Harrop's sister Donna and her husband David, of James Wolfe Road, east Oxford -- was taken ill at the same time.

Father-of-three Scott Harrop, of Thorney Leys, Witney, said Charlotte became ill on December 9. By the end of the day her skin was translucent and her nails and feet were blue.

He said: "She was literally dying and we took her to casualty. She was immediately pumped with fluid and antibiotics."

Charlotte spent one day in intensive care before recovering on a children's ward.

Despite the family being given preventative antibiotics, Fletcher became ill on Thursday, December 20.

Fish and chip shop owner Mr Harrop said: "Fletcher was taken to hospital as a precaution and while Michelle came home to get some clothes, the hospital phoned to say he had deteriorated and was on a ventilator.

"When Fletcher was born he was taken to the Special Care Baby Unit with an infection and we nearly lost him then. He's a great little chap and we've nearly lost him twice now.

"When Bradley became ill a day later, my sister rang the doctor immediately because she knew what had happened before. It was really like lightning striking three times in our family."

Mr Harrop and his family are now urging parents to be alert to meningitis. Although children are immunised against the C strain, there is no vaccination against the B strain.

He said: "I want all parents to know what to look for. We were lucky because in a matter of minutes it could have been another story for any of our children. It feels like your life is in limbo and Christmas really didn't exist. I can't praise the doctors and nurses enough -- they are wonderful."

Dr Dick Mayon-White, Oxfordshire communicable disease specialist, said: "Meningitis is more common at this time of year due to families mixing and staying together over the holidays. The prevalence of colds and flu also leaves people vulnerable to infection.

"No preventative measure is 100 per cent fool-proof and we must always remember to be alert to second cases in a family."

The public health department has been informed and anyone believed to be at risk from the infection has been given preventative drugs.

What to look for and what to do Meningitis can causes the following symptoms, though not always at the same time:

Flu-like fever

Severe headache

A rash which does not disappear when pressure is applied with a glass

Sensitivity to light

Joint or muscle pain and a stiff neck

Vomiting

Action that should be taken:

Call your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647