Sixth form pupils in Thame are the first of Oxfordshire's guinea pigs in the fight against meningitis.

The teenagers, of Lord Williams's School, were today volunteering to give throat swabs in a study into the killer disease by scientists at Oxford University.

Students from other schools and colleges in the county will be helping over the coming weeks as part of a selected nationwide survey.

It is part of a ground-breaking study to monitor the effects of the newly-introduced meningitis C vaccine.

The head of sixth form at Lord Williams's School, John Fulkes, said: "It is vital that young people of this age are aware of the dangers of meningitis.

"Anything that will help develop new vaccines and avoid the consequences of meningitis is something we should all support. We welcome the opportunity to take part in this research."

Meningitis C bacteria live harmlessly in the throats of one in ten people, but can be triggered to cause the fatal disease.

A vaccine was introduced last year and rates of infection fell. The new study will assess whether the C strain is disappearing - and whether other strains, including meningitis B, are on the increase.

Further funding of 750,000 has been awarded to the Oxford University researchers, headed by Dr Martin Maiden. He said: "This important national study relies on the support of many collaborators from a wide variety of backgrounds, but it is especially dependent on the willingness of students and schools to participate."

Last week, researchers at Oxford University announced a breakthrough in their studies into the meniingitis B virus. They hope to develop a vaccine which could be ready by next year.