Funeral for meningitis schoolgirl Ellie Williams

The funeral of a 12-year-old Cornwall girl who died after contracting meningitis has taken place.

Ellie Williams, from Padstow, died on 29 March.

About 500 pupils at Wadebridge School, where she was in Year eight, are being treated with antibiotics to avoid any possible outbreak.

A boy in the same year remains in a stable condition in The Royal Cornwall Hospital with a suspected infection of the disease.

Ellie's female friends and family were asked to wear clothes of pink or purple - her favourite colours - in her memory when they attended the funeral in Truro.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was giving antibiotics to children in Years seven and eight as well as staff at the school.

"The HPA is not aware of anyone else who is being treated in hospital for meningococcal infection," a spokeswoman said.

Parents were alerted to the death by a letter posted on the school's website last week and were advised to contact a doctor if their children show any sign of contracting the disease.

Ellie's grieving friends have left messages of condolence on a Facebook page set up in her memory.

One friend, Jobey Payne, wrote: "I'm still upset and always will be.

"I miss you so much it's unbelievable how much I miss u."

Another, Autumn Savannah, wrote: "Never forget you baby, You're with tha angels now. I love you gorgeous."

The school's head teacher Tina Yardley described Ellie as a "beautiful and talented little girl, whose smile lit up the room".