THE region's best-known sportswoman has found herself at the centre of an equality row after a top hotel tried to charge £1,000 to install a wheelchair ramp.

The Savoy Hotel in London demanded the fee to fit a temporary ramp when Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson attended an awards ceremony last week.

Now Trevor Philips, chairman of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, has threatened to ask public bodies to boycott the hotel in protest.

Dame Tanni, who lives in Redcar, east Cleveland, was chairwoman of the judges at the Romantic Novel of the Year awards.

Organisers had requested a ramp on the platform leading to the top table, but were shocked when the Savoy demanded the four-figure fee.

They claimed the top table was not a public place and the hotel was therefore under no obligation to provide access.

However, after some negotiation, the fee was reduced to £200.

Mr Philips has written an open letter to the Savoy, saying he was "surprised and disappointed" by the hotel's attitude.

He said: "Unless the Savoy complies fully with these regulations, you can be assured that I will ask public bodies not to use it for any events or other functions."

Last night, Dame Tanni said she was glad the hotel had reduced the fee.

She said: "The association told me about it and said they would have paid the £1,000, but I said 'you must be joking - get me a couple of strong waiters to carry me up'.

"I'm used to being carried about places, so would have done that, but there's not a huge amount of dignity in it, and it is nicer to get straight access to places, so a ramp was better.

"I think it was a bit foolish to ask that much."

Dame Tanni said she did not want the row to overshadow the awards or winner Rosie Thomas.

However, she said she was very glad Mr Philips had got involved, saying: "He's been prepared to slap the wrists of a company and say 'it's not on', which gives other businesses and companies a better idea of what they should be doing.

"The Savoy is not the most accessible hotel in London, but they have probably learned a lesson from this."

Nobody at the Savoy was available for comment.