Weir, who has claimed a total of six Paralympic medals in his glittering career, is widely considered Britain’s top wheelchair racer and will be joined at the World Cup in Manchester by multiple British medallists including Ian Jones, Shelly Woods and Libby Clegg.

And Weir revealed that he will take to the track in May to defend his 800 and 1500 metres World Cup titles in the same two events that saw him claim gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

The 30-year-old said: "The BT Paralympic World Cup is a great opportunity for me to race against the best in the world in my own country in front of a home crowd.

"I really get a buzz out of it and it’s the stepping stone to my season."

UK Athletics Paralympic head coach Peter Eriksson added: "The BT Paralympic World Cup is an excellent opportunity for the GB athletes to compete in a world class competition on home soil.

"This year represents a major step in our preparations for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and with the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Athletics World Championships in New Zealand in January 2011, this event is crucial as athletes aim for qualification standards over the summer.

"The event also gives us the opportunity to showcase the talent we have on the UKA World Class Programme and allows our established talent, plus a number of new names, to take on the rest of the world.

"I have high performance hopes for the team."

Meanwhile, a fresh face will be joining the stellar line-up as New Zealand-born sprinter Stefanie Reid makes her debut appearance in a British vest. 

The 25-year-old took up Paralympic sprinting after a boating accident at the age of 16 resulted in her leg being amputated below the knee.

However, just four years later, Reid competed for Canada at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics where she picked up bronze in the 200m and following her switch from Canada to Britain, she is a great talent for Erikson’s team to procure ahead of London 2012.

Reid (pictured) said: "The BT Paralympic World Cup is always one of my favourite meets of the year.

"It is the most professional meet I have ever attended, on par with the Paralympics, which is why it provides such great competition preparation early in the season.

"I am always excited to compete here, rain or shine.

"I have made a lot of changes in the past four months, so I am looking forward to seeing where I am at, along with where my competition is at."

The BT Paralympic World Cup athletics will be held on May 25 at the Manchester Regional Arena and tickets for all the events officially go on sale today and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling 0844 8471622.

Tickets for the world’s largest annual multi-sport elite disability event are priced at £6 per session.

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