A SCHOOL was closed today as pupils paid tribute to an eight-year-old boy who died after contracting a rare form of meningitis.

Crompton Fold Primary School, Breightmet, shut its doors while many pupils attended the funeral of Nathan Macari.

Headteacher Diane O'Brien said: "We left it to individual families about what to do when we closed the school. We told them we were closing as a mark of respect to Nathan.

"The school is in shock. It has affected different people in different ways."

The service took place in St Osmund's RC Church this morning, with 30 members of staff forming a line outside, followed by internment in Tonge Cemetery at 12.15pm.

Nathan, of Beechcroft Avenue, Breightmet, was diagnosed with a bacterial strain of the disease and died at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury.

The meningococcal or bacterial strain of the infection attacks the brain and spinal cord. It proves to be deadly in 20 per cent of all diagnosed cases.

Nathan was the second pupil of the school to be diagnosed with meningitis in eight months. In June, a girl in Year Six was diagnosed with streptococcal septicaemia, a blood poisoning version of the disease. She made a full recovery.

Nathan's mother, Norah Whittle, said her son had just recovered from a stomach bug when he started complaining of back and leg aches going to bed. When he woke up the following morning, he had a rash on his face and body.

Nathan leaves a four-year-old sister, Aimee, step-sisters Hannah and Hayley, and grandparents Margaret and Tony Whittle.

Mrs O'Brien sent letters to parents telling them of the death as the school went into mourning. Nathan celebrated his eighth birthday just days before he died.