A CHARITY in Swindon has welcomed the deputy prime minister’s pledge to offer unpaid carers an annual bonus if Lib Dem remain in power after the next general election, but still believes more should be done to support those who give up their careers to look after a loved one.

Nick Clegg vowed one million carers would be given an extra £250 a year from the Government under Lib Dem leadership.

The extra money would be paid in cash to carers, who would be free to spend it as they wished.

It would be available to anyone who has been receiving Carer’s Allowance for at least a year.

Although delighted to see carers’ roles recognised, Cath Johnston, chief executive of Swindon Carers Centre, said many questions remained to be answered about concrete plans.

“Anything that helps to recognise carers is a great thing, but it’s quite a small thing in the grand scheme of things,” she said. “More needs to be done to support our unpaid carers, particularly from a financial point of view.

“This is for carers who care for someone for more than 35 hours a week. My question is ‘Is it going to impact their other benefits?’ It might have a knock-on effect. When a statement is made it might seem great but the devil is in the detail. We need to find out what it really means.”