Man who set up meningitis petition overwhelmed at support

A man who set up a petition for all children to have the meningitis B vaccine said he is saddened that it took a girl's life to boost the petition but said her parents had been "marvellous".

Lee Booth, from Gateshead, began his campaign in September after being frustrated at being told his daughter, at eight months, was too old to have the vaccination.

It originally attracted 900 names, but the campaign suddenly took off this month when two-year-old Faye Burdett, from Maidstone, died from meningitis and her parents shared harrowing pictures of her.

Mr Booth's petition has now gathered nearly 700,000 signatures.