The NHS is encouraging teenagers to take part in a trial to learn whether a meningitis vaccine could protect them and people of all ages from the infection.

Researchers, who are working with schools in south London, want 24,000 volunteers for the study.

Volunteers need to be aged 16-18 to do the Teenagers Against Meningitis trial.

MenB can cause meningitis and blood poisoning - both can be fatal or can cause long lasting damage.

Meningitis is inflammation of membranes that surround the brain.

The volunteers will receive two doses of MenB vaccine and two throat swabs taken two months apart. Researchers will determine whether the vaccine reduces the number of students holding meningitis-causing bacteria in their throat.

Sutton High School and Burntwood School in Tooting have already taken part.

Greenwich teenager, Fiona Yelland, 15, described falling ill with meningitis on October 4, 2011, as like having intense pins and needles.

She said: "The disease is ridiculously fast working; I felt fine in the morning and was on life support by mid day.

“Since being involved with Meningitis Now and raising awareness about research we’ve achieved so much. MenB is not only one of the most prevalent types it’s the one that causes most damage the other end. Preventing the carriage of it is essential to trying to eradicate it eventually."

Fiona, who suffered short term memory problems for up to six months, is now a Young Ambassador for the charity Meningitis Now.

People most at risk of meningitis are babies, pre-school children and teenagers.

Professor Paul Heath, Children Specialty Group Lead with the National Institute for Health Research in South London, said: "MenB is the main strain causing meningitis in the UK and at the moment our focus is on vaccinating infants.

"We are interested to find out if this trial will provide the evidence to justify a different approach to meningitis vaccinations that may have a greater impact."