DISABLED people are to be given a new voice on Teesside.

A disability and carers' forum is being set up by the Endeavour Housing Association to look at problems faced by disabled people across the community, while providing friendship and mutual support.

The pair behind the move are both disabled residents with the association - Agnes Readman of Norton Grange, and board member Mary Cartwright, from Norton.

Mrs Cartwright said: "The group is still in its embryo stage and we haven't had any formal meetings yet, but I'm very keen because it's important that issues relating to disabled people are highlighted.

"Without something like this, it would be very difficult for us to get together to discuss them.

"There are a lot of different associations around, but the bigger the voice disabled people have, the better.

"If we're all from Endeavour, it is another means of getting tenants to talk to each other and realise the problems other disabled people living elsewhere in the area have."

The forum wants to establish working contact with other voluntary organisations and statutory service providers.

Jayne Soppitt, Endeavour's special initiatives officer, said: "It's a very worthwhole project because a high number of residents have mobility or arthritis problems, so we are very committed to it.

"And it has the possibility not only of involving Endeavour's tenants and carers, but people from our special needs schemes.