BRITAIN’S most successful Paralympic athlete has inspired the next generation of disabled athletes to pursue a career in the world of sport.

Eleven-time gold medallist, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, spent her morning speaking to dozens of youngsters living with physical and sensory impairments who are determined to achieve their dreams of competing professionally.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, originally from Wales but now living in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, visited the young sportsmen and women attending a summer camp created to offer a range of sports to disabled young people.

The Discover Your Ability summer camp is being run at Teesside University and is open to those keen to try a new sporting discipline.

A spokeswoman for the camp’s organisers, Tees Valley Sport, said: “Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson inspired a group of young talented disabled athletes on Monday morning at the multi-sport summer camp.

“Tanni is Britain’s most successful Paralympic athlete and her experience from the worlds of sport, business and politics make her an inspiring speaker and motivator.

“Tanni is recognised as one of the most gifted and courageous sportswomen of her generation and she talked to the young people about the importance of teamwork, perseverance, adaptability, and the will to push oneself to the limit.”

Tees Valley Sport were joined by Teesside University, Tees Valley Community Foundation and the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation to create the summer camp, which was designed by rising stars, Amy Carr and Liam Readle.

Fifteen-year-old Liam has cerebral palsy and realised he had a passion for wheelchair basketball after starting secondary school at St Michael’s Catholic Academy, in Billingham.

He currently plays with the Tees Valley Titans wheelchair basketball club and has been selected to represent the North in a regional team at the National School Games later this month.

Amy was inspired into sport after watching the 2012 Paralympic Games and trained hard to be named the Club Athlete of the Year by Middlesbrough Athletics Club in 2015.

She has already represented Team GB on an international level in Brazil and most recently earned two gold and one bronze medal in the under-20 class of competitors at the World Junior Paralympic Championships in Switzerland earlier this month.

The Tees Valley Sport spokeswoman added: “The summer camp is taking place at Teesside University from Monday, August 21, to Wednesday, August 23, and will be an action-packed, inspirational few days.

“The camp is for young disabled people with physical and sensory impairments who enjoy playing or competing in sport.

“They will have an opportunity to try a number of sports working with an experienced team of coaches and physiotherapists.”

Wheelchair racer Baroness Grey-Thompson earned eleven gold, four silver and one bronze medal during her Paralympic career spanning from the 1998 Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, to the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece.

She also clinched five golds, four silvers and three bronze medals in World Championship competition.