SYLVIA Jones was surprised by the results of the investigation by the Disability Rights Commission which praised businesses in Newport, placing it at the top in a poll of disabled-friendly cities.

"The other places must have been really abysmal or perhaps the people doing the survey were easily satisfied," said the 69-year-old.

We accompanied Mrs Jones, of Caerau Road, around the city centre as she pointed out some of the difficulties faced by disabled visitors: steps into shops, heavy doors, uneven pavements and cluttered doorways.

"I have decided, as a disabled person, to stop being grateful. I don't want positive discrimination. I just want to be the same as anyone else."

She accepted there were limitations but said where improvements could be made, then they should be made. She did have praise for some businesses.

We started off in the Kingsway Centre where Mrs Jones swapped her manual wheelchair for an electric one at Shopmobility, a service she described as a "big help". On the way she pointed out:

* shops with steps making them inaccessible to wheelchairs;

* heavy doors;

* out-of-reach facilities such as public phones, letter boxes, cash machines and lift buttons.

Mrs Jones also criticised the uneven surface of the pavements in the city centre and the camber of the road in some places.

Other problems included badly-placed bollards.

But she also had some good words for some business including:

* Weatherspoons in Cambrian Road which has a ramp and easily accessible disabled toilet.;

* Poundland in Commercial Street where staff even make sure she has extra large carrier bags to go on the back of her wheelchair;

* Dragon Taxis.

Paul Davies, who sometimes pushes Mrs Jones around the city in her own wheelchair, said: "It is not too bad although there are one or two places where it gets a bit awkward."