HORSEWOMAN Anne Dunham will address business leaders next month to explain why she can win Olympic gold medals for her country but can't go shopping in the Marlborough.

Anne, who lives at Broad Hinton, has represented Great Britain at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens.

She is a world champion dressage rider who hopes to compete for her country at this year's world championships and at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.

Yet despite her achievements in the sporting arena, Anne - who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair - finds it almost impossible to go shopping in Marlborough, where the majority of business premises have steps leading to the front door.

As the chairman of Wiltshire and Swindon Users Network, she campaigns for equal access to services for disabled people, and at a meeting of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, May 17 she will appeal traders and business leaders to make their premises more accessible to people with mobility difficulties.

She will be joined by solicitor Adrian Moore, from Withy King, who will explain business people's obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Peter Davison, president of Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, said: "Accessibility is a right, not a privilege, and businesses in the town should be doing everything they can to make their premises more accessible.

"This is not just an issue that affects wheelchair users. Elderly people who have trouble with steps and parents with baby buggies can all find it difficult to get into shops and offices. What we hope to achieve through this meeting is awareness, a willingness among the business community to do something about the issue and a solution to the problem without defacing the fine facades of Marlborough's historic buildings with concrete ramps."

The meeting will be held at Marlborough Leisure Centre from 7.30am on May 17.

Tickets cost £6.50 for members and £7.50 for non-members.

For a booking form email chambernews@secretagentmarketing.com.