ELDERLY husbands and wives who have become carers are to be offered increased support following a £500,000 lottery grant.

Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Carers' Link is one of several North West charities to benefit from the latest series of handouts from the Big Lottery Fund, with a total payout of over £1.9 million.

The group supports the unsung heroes' who dedicate their lives to voluntarily caring for others.

This can put a huge strain on their personal relationships, jobs, home life and finances. Carers often rely on the help of outside agencies, such as Carers' Link, to support them.

Carers' Link is currently channelling its funds into a project that helps young carers - children, teenagers and young adults who have to look after their own parents.

But the latest lottery cash injection of £499,925 will be spent on adult carers, in particular spouses who care for their partners.

Sandra Byrne, relief manager for Carers' Link, said: "This can range from people whose partners have been seriously hurt in a road accident to elderly people, who are in their 70s or 80s themselves and whose partners are very sick."

The funding will be implemented from April and will be partly used to provide two dedicated bi-lingual development workers to help encourage more ethnic minority carers to access the service.

Carers' Link will also run joint activities for both carers and the person being cared for to help reduce social isolation and to integrate them into the community.

Mrs Byrne, continued: "Carers Link works with around 1,500 carers in East Lancashire.

"They receive regular newsletters from us that offers advice on things such as new legislation and grants.

"The charity is a focal point for all local carers and provides a wide range of support including information, training, a listening ear, and the opportunity to ensure that carers' voices and views are heard.

"We are delighted to receive this award from the Big Lottery Fund as it will ensure our services continue and the growing number of carers receive the support they so desperately need."

Big Lottery Fund's head of North West region, Helen Bullough, said: "It is wonderful to see people bringing us ideas on innovative projects which are being turned into action by creative spending of lottery money."