THE Mayor of Lewisham has signed a declaration of equal rights for disabled people.

Steve Bullock signed the document on Friday afternoon as part of the celebrations for International Day of Disabled Persons.

It was also an opportunity for the mayor to discuss major issues facing disabled people in the borough.

The declaration calls for disabled people to be involved in decisions affecting their lives.

Campaign for Independent Living in Lewisham (CILL) chairman Denise Smith said: "The declaration says how up until now most of us have been excluded from debates on disability issues.

"We have been denied our human rights. We must be the people who decide on our quality of life, based on our experiences."

For more information on the CILL campaign, call 020 8851 1043.