THE government is being urged to more to help family carers by Bolton MP Sir David Crausby.

He has written to the minister for children and families Kemi Badenoch to ask what she plans to do to support 'kinship carers'.

They are someone within the family unit who takes up care responsibilities when the parents cannot.

More than a quarter of looked-after young people are cared for by someone they are related to and they often take up the role informally without support or guidance.

Bolton North-East Labour MP Sir David intervened as 'Kinship Care Week' started.

Sir David said: "Without these family carers 64,000 children would be likely to go into local authority care, costing them £2.1billion per year.

“Kinship Care Week is a great opportunity to recognise the vital difference they make every day.

"In difficult circumstances their love and care for these children helps them maintain important family connections and their sense of belonging and stability.

"Research by organisations like Grandparents Plus shows carers need more support. Some 36 per cent say they find it difficult to make ends meet.

"I’ve written to the Minister for Children and Families to ask what the government plans to do to ease that burden.”