Pupils and staff have been offered antibiotics as a precaution after two young girls died from meningitis-related illnesses.

Health officials in South Lanarkshire have urged parents to continue to send their children to school and have stressed that the chance of further cases is remote.

About 650 pupils and staff at three schools in East Kilbride have been offered precautionary antibiotics after the deaths of the girls.

The victims were named as five-year-old Kiera McRitchie, a pupil at Southpark Primary and six-year-old Abbie Macauley who was a pupil at Heatheryknowe Pirmary.

We appreciate that parents will be concerned and people through the area will be worried

Jim Duffin, education official

The grief-stricken parents of Kiera said: "She had a real zest for life and had made many friends since coming to East Kilbride from Aberdeen in June."

Abbie's father said his daughter was "deeply loved and a very special girl."

Doctors confirmed that Kiera died from meningococcal septicaemia, blood poisoning resulting from bacterial meninigitis infection and tests were continuing to establish the type of infection which struck Abbie.

Health experts said parents should not be deterred from sending their children to the schools, stressing that there was no immediate health risk.

Pupils at a third school, St Louise's, which is sited on the grounds of Heatheryknowe, were also being offered antibiotics.

Keira McRitchie: "A real zest for life"

The schools are in the town's Murray area but no connection between the cases has been established.

Dr Jim Miller, a public health consultant with NHS Lanarkshire, said: "There is no clear link between between the two cases other than they did live in a fairly small part of East Kilbride.

"There really is only a slightly higher risk of subsequent cases following these cases but I think we have to err on the side of caution.

"The most important thing is to be aware of the signs of meningitis and septicaemia and to seek medical advice immediately if concerned."

Meningitis - some key symptoms

Vomiting and joint pain Fever and severe headache Neck stiffness Aversion to light and dislike of bright lights Drowsiness

Among other symptoms, meningococcal meningitis can result in a red rash which looks like red pin pricks. This rash does not whiten when pressed with a glass - the 'glass test'. This develops into bruises, blood blisters or blood spots.

An outbreak control team has been looking into the cases and a special helpline has been set up to give advice.

The affected schools opened on Sunday evening to offer advice to parents.

Jim Duffin, head of school development at South Lanarkshire Council, said: "There was a great turnout of parents yesterday at the schools and a lot of people had come out to receive the information and talk about their worries.

"Parents were wondering if they should send their children to school. The view of the health professionals was they should and there is no immediate danger.

"We appreciate that parents will be concerned and people through the area will be worried. Certainly the two schools are quite close together but we are unable to establish any connection between the cases."

The helpline is 01698 286363 and is open during office hours.