On her third admittance to Bishop Auckland General Hospital, County Durham, she was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital's specialist unit, they said.

Twelve-year-old Teresa Wise died of meningococcal septicaemia and meningococcal meningitis, the deadly bacterial forms of meningitis according to a post mortem examination.

Her parents Terence and Kim Wise said doctors transferred her when they diagnosed Teresa with a "rare virus".

Incorrect diagnosis

Mr Wise said that Teresa was first admitted on 26 December, when doctors diagnosed possible epilepsy and sent her home.

She returned to the hospital the following day and doctors again sent her home saying she had viral flu, he said.

Two days later she was taken back to Bishop Auckland General Hospital by ambulance where another examination was carried out.

Meningitis was not diagnosed, but later that evening she was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital where she died on 31 December in the early hours.

Mr Wise said: "On the third visit the doctor told us it definitely wasn't meningitis because there was no swelling on the brain and she was able to move her neck.

"He said it was a rare virus and that they knew of a patient at Newcastle General Hospital who was also thought to have it."

A spokesman for Bishop Auckland General Hospital said it was aware of the family's concerns but was unable to comment on the case because of patient confidentiality rules.

Vaccination programme

Up to 3,000 youngsters in a town are to be vaccinated against meningitis after a third confirmed case of the disease which has already claimed the life of a teenager.

Vaccines and antibiotics are to be offered to people aged 11 to 21 in Poynton, Cheshire, including all the pupils at the local high school.

Trevor Stockton, 16, died in hospital in nearby Macclesfield yesterday from meningococcal septicaemia.