AN inspirational nine-year-old and her twin sister are set to become the faces of a global meningitis awareness campaign.

Ellie-May Challis, of Little Clacton, lost her limbs after contracting meningitis in 2005 and became the youngest person in the world to be fitted with carbon fibre sports legs.

Now celebrated photographer Anne Geddes – famous for the way she captures the innocence of childhood – has unveiled a series moving portraits of youngsters who have survived the deadly disease.

Engaines Primary School pupil Ellie-May, who defied the odds to walk and run using her hi-tech blades, features in the Protecting Our Tomorrows campaign with twin sister Sophie.

The touching photos have been released to raise awareness of the disease by the Meningitis Now and Meningitis Research Foundation charities.

The photos will be released as part of a new e-book on World Meningitis Day, on April 24.