A SERVICE is extending its reach to help hundreds of residents in Bolton thanks to a £50,000 cash injection.

The helpline for carers in the town will be increasing its opening hours in order to provide support to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The extension was made possible through joint funding from Bolton Council and NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Council deputy leader, Councillor Linda Thomas said: "We’re pleased to be able to help Bolton Carers Support by providing funding for the extension of this carers helpline to 24 hours a day.

"There are hundreds of carers across Bolton, looking after relatives and friends. We value the massive contribution they make and it is vital that they receive the help and support they need.

"The extension of this helpline will provide them with someone to talk to, day or night, who will be able to provide support and advice and signpost them to any further help they need."

According to the 2011 census 30,649 people in Bolton reported they had caring responsibilities, an increase of more than 2,000 on the previous 2001 census.

However, there are around 3,000 local carers looking after someone who is a social care service user, where the person they care needs help because of long term illness, physical disabilities, mental health problems or substance misuse.

As the number of older and disabled people increase in the town, though, carers numbers will also rise.

The helpline is there to offer advice on practical matters as well as support when noone else is available.

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, chairman of the CCG, added: "Caring for someone can be enormously rewarding but there are also times when it is physically and mentally exhausting, so a 24 hour helpline will offer much needed support.

"Carers are essentially an informal extension of the NHS and we could not manage without them."

The helpline is run by Bolton Carers Support in conjunction with the Bolton at Home Careline.

Between 9am and 5pm, carers across Bolton can ring with queries around benefits, equipment, support groups, health services, help at home, respite breaks, or how to get a carer’s assessment.

Between 5pm and 9am on weekdays, weekends and Bank Holidays, carers can call if they have an urgent issue or emergency, for example if the person they care for has had a fall or become agitated or unwell.

To contact the helpline call 01204 363056.