Over 3 million people juggle care with work.

However, the significant demands of caring mean that 1 in 5 carers are forced to give up work altogether.

The UK's 6 million carers save the country an estimated £87 billion per year (costs that would otherwise be met by the care system).

In return, the main carer's benefit is the lowest of its kind, paid at only £53.10 a week for a minimum of 35 hours caring, equivalent to £1.52 per hour - far short of the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour.