A MUCH-LOVED nurse at Melksham community hospital has died from a deadly strain of meningitis.

The family of 55-year-old Gillian Hudd have spoken of their grief at the sudden loss of a cherished wife, mother and grandmother.

Mrs Hudd, who worked at Melksham hospital for more than 30 years, died at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, on Thursday, despite a brave ten-day battle against a bacterial form of meningitis.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to pack St Michael's Church to say goodbye to a woman who dedicated her life to caring for others.

Mrs Hudd lived with her 58-year-old husband, Michael, in Grassmere, Bowerhill.

Her daughter Joanne Ramsay, 36, lives with her husband Neil and four-year-old daughter Megan in Hilperton.

Mr Ramsay, 33, said the family have been hit hard by the tragic events of the past two weeks.

"It has been very hard for us to come to terms with Gillian's death.

"It happened so quickly and it is really hard adjusting to life without her.

"She had been working at Melksham casualty unit for most of her professional career and came into contact with so many people and affected so many lives."

Melksham has been hit by four meningitis deaths in less than a year.

Wiltshire's consultant for communicable disease control Dr Bharat Pankhania was called to study three cases earlier this year but he ruled out fears of an outbreak.

Staff at Melksham casualty unit have been left shell-shocked at the news.

Elaine Leeder, head of casualty services at West Wiltshire NHS Primary Care Trust, said; "We are shocked and grieving and extremely sad to lose such a valuable member of staff."

Rev Chris Painter, who will be leading the funeral service today, said he has been stunned by the amount of people who knew Mrs Hudd.

He said: "Members of the community who were treated by Gillian have spoken to me.

"They have been greatly affected by the sad news of her death and feel deeply for her family.

"A lot of people don't understand why this has happened and are quite bewildered by it."

Mrs Hudd, a former pupil of Lowbourne Primary School and Shurnhold School (now the George Ward School), became a care assistant at Melksham hospital in 1971, before training as a pupil nurse at Devizes from 1974 to 1976.

Spending the next 25 years as a state enrolled and state general nurse she was promoted to sister in 2001.

The funeral is at 11am on October 4.

Donations can be made to the Meningitis Research Foundation through DJ Bewley of Melksham.