A "CRUEL" illness that cost a little girl her feet, fingertips and almost her life has inspired friends and family to start a support group to benefit her and others.

Doctors gave Hollie Lingard, now 20 months, just a 10 per cent chance of survival as she lay in a coma after contracting meningococcal septicaemia - blood poisoning - in July.

She miraculously pulled through, but lost half of both feet, a little finger and several fingertips on both hands to what mum Teresa dubbed a "cruel, cruel illness".

Now the Support Hollie and the Fight Against Meningitis group aims to provide specialist equipment not covered by the NHS to ensure Hollie can walk properly.

At least half of the cash raised - the target is £6,000 in the first two years - will go to the Meningitis Trust on the wishes of Hollie's family.

Teresa Lingard, aged 28, of Usmere Road, Kidderminster, admitted she had feared the worst as her daughter lay unconscious in hospital for six days.

She said doctors told her it was only down to her quick wits and Hollie's "fighting" character that tragedy had been averted.

"On July 22 Hollie woke up crying at 11pm. I picked her up but she didn't seem right, although there was no temperature, no symptoms - nothing," she said.

An ambulance took the pair to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the next day Hollie was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital and put on a life support machine.

"It was absolutely awful. All the odds were against her but the doctors said Hollie was such a fighter. They called her a little miracle."

Half of both her feet were amputated last month and she has also had skin grafts. As she grows, further operations may be necessary.

But Hollie, who had already learnt to run, is now walking on her knees and her mum said there was no reason why she would not start walking again - perhaps within weeks.

"She's surprised us all. She's come through so much. She's coping with her hands and she picks everything up as normal.

"She just looks at her hands and tries to work out what's actually happened."

The support group will help with treatment not available on the NHS - but if Hollie has all she needs all funds raised will go to the Meningitis Trust.

And warning people about a deadly illness that can strike any child at any time is also at the heart of the project.

"Meningococcal septicaemia is so quick and so devastating. I want parents to know if they feel there's something wrong with their child, trust their instinct," Mrs Lingard said.

Support Hollie and the Fight against Meningitis is planning fund-raising activities including charity football matches, drag racing and sponsored school events.

The first is a sponsored Kidderminster pub crawl on November 30.

n For further information about the support group contact Joanne Brooks on 01562 743242.