A grant of £217,600 was announced yesterday to ease the strain on hard working carers who spend their lives looking after frail or disabled relatives and friends.

It will enable them to receive regular health checks and pampering to ensure they can carry on their valuable efforts around Teesdale and Weardale, Co Durham.

News of the cash award from the Big Lottery Fund was greeted with cheers by staff and volunteers at the Barnard Castle headquarters of Durham Dales Action for Carers.

The chairman, Terry Willits, said: "There are around 1,500 men and women in the two dales who devote their time to looking after others, and many often struggle to find the time and energy to stay in good shape themselves.

"These people save the National Health Service millions of pounds each year by caring at home for people who would otherwise be in hospital, so it is important that they are also looked after well."

He said the cash will enable health link workers to keep an eye on the carers for the next five years. This will include counselling and aromatherapy sessions to relieve stress, health checks for those who seem under the weather and support groups to organise social activities.

The link workers will develop a register to ensure that each carer gets support when needed, and arrange various events to promote healthy living and diets.

Carers living in isolated parts of the two dales say they are particularly grateful for the help offered as they would otherwise face extra strain through being out of reach of other services.

With the average age of the population in both rural areas rising steadily, about 100 new carers are added to the total each year Mr Willits added: "Our support helps carers to effectively carry out their role, which is an important factor in keeping the cared for at home and out of hospital. This grant will enable us to do an even better job."

Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, praised the work of all the carers, and their support workers, when she visited the headquarters, saying they all gave a valuable service to the community.