PLAYING happily with her family, it is hard to believe little Regan Barlow "died" twice just weeks ago.

Doctors had to resuscitate the desperately ill youngster when her heart stopped twice, as she battled the deadly brain disease meningitis last month.

But now, the bubbly two-year-old has not only returned home and to her friends at nursery, she has also been chosen as the face of this year's annual toddle waddle, in Bolton, and will lead the walk which will be held on May 13.

Her proud mum, Lynda Cundill, said: "Meningitis is every parents worst nightmare, you just don't expect it to happen to you. It was easily the worst thing we have ever been through.

"We want to do all we can to raise awareness of this terrible condition, as well as raising money for research, so we're telling as many people as possible about our experiences."

Ms Cundill, who also has a three-month-old daughter, Jasmine, put Regan to bed as usual on Sunday, February 4.

But when dad, Lee Barlow, a bus driver, went to wake his daughter the following morning he discovered her cowering under her bed.

The couple noticed bruise-like marks on Regan's upper body and rushed her to the family doctor, who injected her with insulin and called for an ambulance to take her to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where she was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia.

There medical staff desperately tried to stabilise and resuscitate her.

Later that day she was stable enough to be transferred to the intensive care unit at the specialist children's hospital, Alder Hey, in Liverpool, although her parents had to travel there separately because there was not enough room in the ambulance for them and the medical staff.

Regan's baby sister had to be left at the family home in Deane Church Lane, Deane, with her grandmother, Joan Barlow.

Ms Cundill said: "The staff at Alder Hey were fantastic, but they kept telling us that the next 48 hours were critical. It was heartbreaking to see my little girl hooked up to all those tubes and wire, they were everywhere."

Despite being kept in a coma, doctors deemed Regan strong enough to breathe on her own by the Wednesday night, and the day after she was moved from intensive care to an isolation ward, where she spent the next eight days.

Eventually she came round and began eating her favourite foods - mashed potatoes, beans and yoghurts.

She was allowed home on February 16 - her father's birthday.

Ms Cundill said: "This was the best birthday present Lee could have had. She's even back at nursery. She knows there has been something wrong with her and she's still a little bit clingy at times, but she's very much her own person, fiercely independent and doing really well."

The toddle waddle will start at 11am from the White Horse pub on Stitch Mi Lane, Harwood, on May 13.

All money raised will go towards the Meningitis Trust and soap star, Sammy Winward, along with her baby daughter, Mia, will take part. For more information about getting involved contact Natalie Yates on 01204 403800 or Michelle Holding on 01204 300818 or visit: www.bolton-toddlewaddle.co.uk