by Katie Lamborn

The parents of Kent twins who were struck down by an E.coli outbreak at a petting farm formally launched a bid for compensation today.

Todd and Aaran Furnell, aged three, spent weeks in hospital fighting the potentially fatal 0157 strain bug after visiting Godstone Farm, near Redhill, Surrey.

Lawyers representing 16 families - including the boys' - that were affected by the outbreak have now issued proceedings.

Jill Greenfield, of law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, said: "It's important that in the long term that these children can have access to funds if and when they need them."

"We don't know yet how these children are going to react physically in the future - they may have to even have kidney transplants.

"This will have an impact on how they live their lives normally so they may need help."

The twins' mum Tracy Monk, of Paddock Wood, told why she is launching the action earlier this week.

She said: "The main reason for taking the legal action is that I feel it should be investigated; how it was handled.

"There could be a lot to learn, there are a lot of questions relating to it.

Audio: Lawyer Jill Greenfield on the E-coli case

"If they had acted quickly enough we probably would not have gone to the farm."

Little Aaron suffered acute kidney failure and has to be taken to the Evelina Children's hospital in London every six weeks for blood and urine tests.

He still uses a feeding-tube for ingesting liquids.

Yesterday health bosses revealed there has been another e-coli outbreak in Maidstone.