Some 900 elderly people in Kingston are each providing more than 50 hours of unpaid care after funding in the borough for people over 65 was cut by more than half.

Age UK statistics show 4 four per cent of elderly Kingston residents are providing more than a working week’s equivalent of care for free.

The statistics show social care spending for the over-65s went down from £24.5m in 2010-11 to just £10.3m in 2013-14.

Ruth Hannan, policy and development manager for the Carers Trust, said: “Older carers have been significantly impacted by the cuts to social care funding, meaning they are having to undertake more and more caring responsibilities.

“As the Age UK report on older carers identified recently, more and more people are acting as unpaid carers to family and friends in later life.

“It is estimated that three-in-five of us are likely to be a carer at some point in our life;, this is likely to be when we are older ourselves, with our own health needs.”

The data was released to coincide with Carers Week, an annual awareness campaign running from June 6 to 12, which focuses on supporting cares.

Run by Carers UK, a nationwide movement of carers supporting each other and pushing for government policy changes, the week seeks to draw attention to people who give up their time to look after others, often unpaid for free.

Kingston Carers UK ambassador Anne Blanche said the amount of people actually providing unpaid care could be much higher.

She said: “I would like to say to everyone in this borough who has caring responsibilities:, There is help out there and there are people who care.

“Many people do not wish to be identified as carers or simply do not realise that they are.

“I cannot deal with every request personally but I have a very large national organisation behind me which can and will help.

"I am here to ensure that carers here have access to information and services.”

Last year the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) warned additional funds were urgently needed to protect older and vulnerable people in the face of £1.1 billion budget cuts to adult social services.

ADASS president Ray James said: “What is at stake is the continuing capacity of adult social care to sustain services to those in greatest need.

“In virtually all our authorities, the number in need is growing, while the complexity of their needs is increasing.”

Carers UK services are free and can be accessed online at via carersuk.org or by calling 020 7378 4999.

To see Carers Week events visit carersweek.org. To contact Kingston ambassador Ms Blanche email anne.blanche@carersuk.net.