Vergeer has not been beaten since the 2000 British Open

The event, which begins on Tuesday, is the third tournament of the year to have Super Series status, the equivalent of Grand Slam.

World number ones Michael Jeremiasz and Esther Vergeer head the field in the men's and women's singles events.

In the quad singles event, Briton Peter Norfolk will be bidding to win his third British Open in four years.

Norfolk will face a tough challenge from American David Wagner, who he beat in the final 12 months ago and also to win gold at the Athens Paralympics in 2004.

But US Open champion Nick Taylor, who plays from a powerchair, will also be hoping to add to his titles.

After the retirement of seven-times British Open champion David Hall of Australia earlier this year, the men's singles field includes only one previous champion, Dutchman Robin Ammerlaan.

Saida and Kunieda celebrate their Wimbledon success

Ammerlaan, the current world number three triumphed in 2003 but has been beaten by Jeremiasz in the semi-finals in the past two years.

Japanese pair Shingo Kunieda and Satoshi Saida, who won the men's wheelchair doubles at Wimbledon, will be hoping to claim more success.

Kunieda won his first Super Series title in Japan earlier this year to start a run of four successive tournaments wins that have seen him jump to number two in the world.

Leading the British challenge will be world number 14 Jayant Mistry, who will also compete in the doubles with Ammerlaan as they aim for their third title in six years.