last updated: Friday 25 September 2009, 09:40am

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E.coli toddler out of hospital

A two-year-old boy who suffered kidney failure following an E.coli outbreak at a petting farm has been discharged from hospital.

Todd Furnell, from Paddock Wood, Kent, spent more than two weeks receiving treatment alongside his twin brother, Aaron.

Last night his mother, Tracy Mock, said she was 'delighted' the toddler had recovered enough to return home with his father. But she said she was 'disappointed' that his brother was still on a drip and too unwell to be released.

The pair underwent dialysis at St Thomas's Hospital in London after they contracted the O157 strain of the infection following their visit to Godstone Farm, near Redhill in Surrey.

Ms Mock said the toddler would have blood tests next week when he would be taken back to hospital to see his brother.

She is among parents pursuing legal action against Godstone Farm and said it would be a year before the little boy could be given the all-clear.

'In a year's time he will have a full kidney function test to make sure everything is as it should be. We won't know until then whether there's any damage,' she said.

As Todd was taken back to Kent, three children, including Aaron, remained in hospital in a stable condition.

Three new cases of the bug announced by the HPA has taken the total number to 79.

Four farms have shut since the outbreak came to light at Godstone Farm, where the earliest link to infection was traced back to August 8.

Tests carried out at the farm confirmed the E.coli bug was present in animal droppings.

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