A CONFERENCE to explore the future of disability equality is to be held in the North-East later this week.

The Next Steps conference, at Durham's County Hall, has been organised by Durham County Council.

Speakers from the Department for Transport, the Disability Rights Commission, the British Council of Disabled People and leading professionals will debate the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, including transport and access to the countryside.

Angela Hamilton, the council's access and equality officer, said: "Over the coming months, we want people with disabilities to become involved in drawing up the county council's new Disability Equality Scheme, which is our action plan for ensuring equality for disabled people.