THE tragic death of a 12-year-old boy has touched the hearts of his school pals who have raised hundreds of pounds in his memory.

Mark Booth died within 24 hours of contracting meninigoccocal meningitis.

But this week the young boy's life was celebrated when his school handed over a cheque for £831 to the Meningitis Trust.

And Mark's mother, Mrs Susan Booth, who described her son as "the most well behaved, bubbly boy", said she was pleased that he would never be forgotten.

Mark, a gifted Year Eight pupil at Westhoughton High School, died in January. He started feeling unwell on Sunday and died in hospital less than a day later.

His death devastated his parents, and his two older sisters and brother.

And his loss was also felt by all his friends and staff at the school who decided to mark his life with a "Wear Red for Mark Day" on Valentine's Day.

Deputy head teacher Mrs Florence Hatton said: "Mark was such a popular boy, he was very bright and a computer wizard. He made an impression on everyone.

"We decided to hold the fund raising day and collected £831 in one day. The children paid £1 to wear something red, and we had lots more donations. I have never seen so many voluntary contributions. I had children coming up to me giving £5 notes. I was being stopped in the corridor and handed money that children wanted to give."

The school also framed Mark's last painting and created a Book of Memories containing stories about him which they gave to his mother. "We also gave her all his school work to remember him by," said Mrs Hatton who along with Mark's form teacher read a lesson at his funeral..

And Mark's memory will live on at the school. Mrs Booth and her husband John, of The Crescent, Westhoughton, have donated a cup to be presented to the brightest IT pupil every year. "Mark was very keen on computers. We were devastated when he died," Mrs Booth said. "His death has left a big hole in our family. He was only 12 and the baby of the family as our other children have all grown up and left home. You never think anything like this will happen to you. It was so quick and coming to terms with the fact that Mark has gone is extremely difficult. Meningitis can strike so fast, recognising the symptoms and getting medical help can be life saving.

"We have been very touched that the school has taken the time and trouble to remember Mark but we are not surprised as we have had so much support from everyone at the school. Raising money for the Trust is one way we can try to prevent other families going through what we have been through."

Her son Colin is a teaching assistant on the Isle of Wight, and there has been a fund raising effort at his school. And pupils and staff at Daisy Hill Primary School which Mark attended, have planted a tree in the grounds and put up a plaque to him.

Mrs Booth, who met her husband when she was a pupil at Westhoughton High School and whose other children also went to the school, added: "We are very happy that Mark will not be forgotten."