Smiling eight year old Natalie Baker provided the icing on the cake at the launch of a nationwide learning disability helpline.

The Surbiton girl, who has Downs Syndrome, helped Health Minister Jacqui Smith put the final touches to icing the Freephone numbers on a giant telephone cake.

The youngster was accompanied by her mother, Sue, for the recent inauguration at Mencaps London headquarters.

They were invited by the charity to promote the creation of the first national learning disability help-line in England, run by Mencap through to a £750,000 three-year Government grant.

It will provide a much-needed information and advice service on a wide range of issues for people with learning disabilities, parents, carers and social care professionals.

Sue Baker said a learning disability helpline would have made a big difference in helping her raise daughter Natalie.

I have spent the last eight years knocking on doors. This Learning Disability Helpline would have been the key to all those doors!

The learning disability helpline will operate via Freephone 0808 808 1111 from 10am to 4pm, Mondays to Fridays, with a round-the-clock answering service.