A Bristol woman's granddaughter defied the odds by surviving after her life support machine was turned off.

Grace Vincent was just six weeks old when she was struck down by a rare form of meningitis and rushed to hospital.

She spent four days in intensive care before the decision was taken to switch off the life support machine, but the little fighter started to breathe on her own and is now on her way to recovery.

Her grandmother Leigh Brice, of St Philips, now calls the youngster Amazing Grace because of the way she has responded.

The family know there may well be lasting damage due to the disease but are thrilled that she has survived and is starting to regain use of her senses.

Mrs Brice, 48, wants to raise awareness of the bacterial infection group B streptococcus (strep B or GBS) which caused the meningitis that could have taken her granddaughter's life.

It is present in about a quarter of women of childbearing age, can be passed onto babies during labour and kills one in eight affected youngsters.

Mrs Brice, a legal secretary with Clarke Willmott, believes Grace's experience shows that women should be tested for strep B in the late stages of pregnancy so that treatment can be carried out to prevent other babies suffering.

She is also taking part in a walk from Bath to Bristol to help raise money for Downend-based Meningitis UK this weekend, along with her son Pete Vincent and colleague Ashleigh.

Mrs Brice, of Anvil Street, said that Grace had been born without any complications and was doing well a week before her Marine dad returned from Afghanistan.

She said: "Nothing showed up that should cause any alarm. She was a happy little child.

"But then she started to be off her food for a bit. A few hours later she became very pale and blotchy and that was what alerted my son and partner to the fact that everything was not right."

Her parents, Pete, 26, and Emily Ashurst, rushed Grace to Newcastle General near their home on May 16 and she was taken into intensive care.

"Grace was put on life support and was given various tests which showed that she was suffering severe abnormalities," said Mrs Brice. "They also confirmed that she had suffered extensive brain damage.

"Several days after she was admitted it was decided to switch off her life support due to the fact that she had catastrophic brain damage and couldn't breathe on her own.

"The ventilator was switched off at 11pm and, amazingly, she did not die but continued to breathe unaided and is still with us."

Grace is still in hospital in Newcastle having completed a course of antibiotics but she continues to make progress each day.

"Grace is very slowly picking up by degrees and we are very happy," added Mrs Brice.

"We didn't think she would make it and every day we were expecting to be her last one but as time has gone on she has been gaining strength.

"Doctors said that she is likely to suffer many problems in the future and possibly disabilities, but no-one is able to predict how good a recovery she will make."

Mrs Brice has never done a charity walk before, but will be lining up for the Summer Stroll on Saturdaywith walkers including Lorraine Tighe, who appeared in the latest series of The Apprentice.

The event will raise funds for the Meningitis UK Search 4 a Vaccine campaign.

"I was no more aware of meningitis than anyone else," said Mrs Brice. "I knew it was a nasty disease and was dangerous and I had seen the publicity campaign some years ago but was absolutely amazed that there was not more awareness about the different types and how dangerous they are, particularly GBS.

"A routine test is not carried out, even though it just involves a simple swab.

"I think pregnant women should be made aware of this and entitled to have a test. Even though the test is not carried out in hospitals it can be done privately at home.

"There were three babies in hospital with strep B when Grace went in and they all died. People need to be made aware of it."

Steve Dayman, chief executive of Meningitis UK, said: "Early diagnosis and treatment is vital in 'late-onset' GBS infection or meningitis so, if your baby shows any of the signs, go immediately to your nearest GP or hospital.

The Department of Health told the Evening Post that there is not enough evidence to suggest that screening all pregnant women for strep B and treating them with antibiotics would outweigh the harm.