FYLDE sex-swap patient Gina Large has hit back at a leading a controversial Tory peer's comments on proposals for new gender recognition laws with an invitation... for afternoon tea.

Hotelier Gina, 56, wrote to the former Conservative chairman, Norman Tebbit, after reading his comments during the second reading of the Gender Recognition Bill in the House of Lords on November 27.

Lord Tebbit -- famed for his right wing views on issues such as immigration and gay rights -- was among a group of peers opposed to the bill on the grounds that a sex change operation would not be a 'requirement' for recognising a transsexual as their chosen sex.

In her letter Gina, who lives in Blackpool, challenged Lord Tebbit to: "Join me for a drink or lunch, and a chat, face to face.

"I believe you would find this educational and enlightening, and that you might well come away convinced there is more to this than we understand in terms of our current knowledge."

But Gina, who is currently recovering from complicated gender reassignment surgery after living as a woman for three years, has yet be taken up on her offer.

Gina said: "I wrote to Lord Tebbit because I was incensed that a person in his position could demonstrate such bigoted views.

"But his comments don't hurt me because, over the years I've met hundreds of people like him and I know he's wrong.

"His Lordship has replied that he is firmly of the opinion that I am suffering from 'a real psychological illness' and am in need of 'treatment'.

"One shudders to think what "Doctor" Tebbit's 'treatment' would comprise, to make me see the error of my ways. It's not a question of labels or methods of "treatment", I'm not the one with the problem because I now know who I am.

"I've already invited Lord Tebbit to get in contact with me when he's next in Blackpool so that we can come face-to-face for a chat over a cup of tea.

"If he has the strength of conviction he appears to have, then he'll take me up on this offer and see that I'm not a monster, a transvestite' or simply a cross dresser.

"But I doubt he would ever take me up on my invitation. He would probably consider it 'too risky'.

"At the end of the day I'm 100 per cent genuine and I defy any psychiatrist or medical professional to meet with me and come to any other conclusion."