CARERS are taking part in an advertising campaign to raise awareness of the issues they face.

Carers' organisations in the Tees Valley have come together for the first time to identify more carers living in Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton.

There are an estimated 180,000 carers living in the Tees Valley, but only 25,00030,000 have accessed the support offered by the region's four carers' organisations.

A spokesman said: "A carer is someone who supports a friend or relative who is ill, frail or has an impairment.

"Many people do not see themselves as a carer, but as a parent, sibling or friend. As such, they do not seek the support that is available."

Darlington Association on Disability Carers' Support Service, Sanctuary Carr Gomm (Middlesbrough), Carers Together (Redcar and Cleveland) and The George Hardwick Foundation (Stockton) were successful in getting funding from the Department of Health to do a joint televisioin and radio advertising campaign to encourage more carers to come forward for support.

Carers from each area appeared in the campaign.

Information about the carers can be found at icareforsomeone.com. The "icareforsomeone" campaign started in April and will continue until Carers' Week, which runs from June 13 to 19.