A GROUP of parents who each lost a teenager to meningitis have issued a hard-hitting warning to tale up the offer of a lifesaving vaccine.

Parents - including Michelle Bresnahan, Paul Gentry, Julia Styles and Ailsa Sugrue – are spearheading charity Meningitis Now’s campaign to increase Men ACWY vaccine uptake amongst young adults.

United in their grief, they have taken the brave step to speak out about the pain of their loss to prevent similar tragedies happening to other families.

Malmesbury mother Julia Styles lost her 19-year-old daughter Emily to the disease on New Year’s Day 2014.

Julia said: “We have so many wonderful happy memories of Emily, but she had so much more to give and our immeasurable loss is for all that was yet to come.

“She would have been a brilliant teacher, wife and mummy, but sadlywas denied these chances to shine.”

Now Julia hopes that, by speaking out and sharing her tragic story, she can persuade other parents and their children to act.

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive at Meningitis Now, said: “It’s vital that young people and their parents are not complacent about the threat of meningitis - we urge them to take upthis lifesaving vaccine.”

For more information about the vaccine, see meningitisnow.org