Miller is a veteran of four Paralympic Games

World champion Stephen Miller and teenager Jade Jones will represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the IPC Athletics World Championships.

Defending champions David Weir, Bev Jones and Dan Greaves are also among a 40-strong squad named for New Zealand.

The Worlds, which begin on 21 January, 2011, is the final qualifying event ahead of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic head coach Peter Eriksson said: "We expect to challenge for medals, which is our main priority."

Eriksson added that the track and field competition, which will see 1,200 athletes in action, would also offer senior and junior members of the squad a chance to shine.

He said: "In addition, looking ahead to future Paralympic Games, the World Championships provides another vital opportunity for our senior athletes to compete at the highest level against the best athletes in the world.

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"For our juniors, it's an important stepping stone towards London, but ultimately to Rio de Janeiro in 2016."

Leading the way for the seniors in New Zealand will be 30-year-old Miller, a veteran of four Paralympic Games, three World Championships and two European Championships.

The Gateshead athlete, who specialises in the club throw event, has won 24 medals on the global stage since making his Paralympics debut as a teenager in Atlanta.

The three-time World Champion is joined in the squad for Christchurch by experienced team mates Shelley Woods and Ben Rushgrove, alongside 2006 gold medallists Weir, Jones and Greaves.

The competition will, however, be a first for 14-year-old Sunderland schoolgirl Jones who joins the squad on the back of an outstanding display at the IWAS World Junior Championships in August which saw her win five gold and one silver medal.

Jones, who is coached by Ian Thompson and Tanni Grey-Thompson, will make her senior debut in T54 200m, 400m and 800m.

Although a potential medal hope for the Paralympics in Rio in 2016, the World Championships will give Jones the chance to eye a place in the squad for London 2012.

GB & NI SQUAD

Men
Graeme Ballard - T36 100m, 200m
Paul Blake - T36 400m, 800m, 1500m
Mickey Bushell - T53 100m, 200m, 400m
Kenny Churchill - F37 javelin
Aled Davies - F42 shot putt, discus
David Devine - T12 800m
Kyron Duke - F40 javelin
Dan Greaves - F44 discus
Thomas Green - F32 cub throw
Ian Jones - T44 200m, 400m
Chris Martin - F33 discus
Stephen Miller - F32 club throw
Scott Moorhouse - F42 javelin
Danny Nobbs - F54 shot putt
Jonnie Peacock - T44 100m
Ben Rushgrove - T36 100m, 200m
Nathan Stephens - F57 javelin
Kieran Tscherniawsky - F33 discus
David Weir - T/54 800m, 1500m, 5000m, marathon
Dan West - shot putt, discus
Richard Whitehead - T44 200m
Rob Womack - F55 shot putt

Women
Hollie Arnold - F46 javelin
Sally Brown -T46 100m, 200m
Libby Clegg - T12 100m, 200m
Hannah Cockroft - T34 100m, 200m
Sophie Hancock - F40 shot putt
Katrina Hart - T37 100m, 200m
Tracey Hinton - T11 100m, 200m, 400m
Bev Jones - F37 discus, shot putt
Jade Jones - T54 200m, 400m, 800m
Jenny McLoughlin - T37 100m, 200m
Josie Pearson - T52 100m, 200m
Gemma Prescott - F32 club throw, shot putt
Stefanie Reid - T44 100m, 200m, long jump
Hazel Robson - T36 100m, 200m
Sophia Warner - T35 100m, 200m
Claire Williams - F12 discus
Shelly Woods - T54 800m, 1500m, 5000m
Bethany Woodward - T37 100m, 200m

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