WITH Carers Week coming up next month I believe now would be an opportune time to remind all members of the new Durham County Council/Unitary Authority of the very valuable contribution made by parent carers and family carers to the finances of the local authority.

These two groups of dedicated people save the local authority and the Government (MPs also please note) millions, if not billions, of pounds each year in care costs.

Being a carer is a 24-hour, sevenday week effort involving a heavy workload and difficult task of caring for someone while trying to run a family home, which can prove exhausting and mentally gruelling.

I would, therefore, like to suggest it is only fair that should the local authority have in place or be contemplating any measures designed to save money, but which could ultimately increase the workload and level of stress on carers, they be put aside before any carer is pushed that little bit too far.

The only person who knows what it is really like to be a carer is another carer.

John Routledge, Witton Gilbert, Durham.