BRITAIN'S best known paralympic athlete is to tell an audience of health professionals that people with disabilities should be able to choose the care they receive.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson said that, while she has never received ongoing professional care, a friend of hers has, and for her "it was about being able to make choices so that she could do what she wanted when she wanted".

The sportswoman is addressing two conferences on Teesside, at which social care professionals from the public, voluntary and independent sectors and a variety of organisations, will hear the views and aspirations of people who receive professional care.

Dame Tanni, who lives in east Cleveland, said: "Professional care helps people who are on the receiving end to enjoy a better quality of life and experience greater independence.

"The conferences will give people who receive care an excellent opportunity to air their views so that future policies and practices for social care continue to reflect their needs and that of a changing world."

Both events are organised by the Skills for Care North East Learning Resource Centre Network, which is Government backed.

The first conference takes place at the Oakwood Centre, Eaglescliffe, on Friday. The second event will be at The Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn, Northumberland, on October 7.

Mike Lauerman, chairman of Skills for Care North East, said: "We hope that professional care workers and social workers, who on a daily basis support and enable the most vulnerable people in our society to maintain independence, choice and dignity, will come away from these events feeling all the more that their job is truly worthwhile."