AN EAST Lancashire MP has backed a Commons campaign for carers to be recognised on the next national census.

Greg Pope, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, has called for the census, due to take place in 2011, to make a specific note if someone living at an address is a carer of another resident there.

Politicians want to have a detailed picture of how many carers there are locally and nationally.

Mr Pope said: "I know that carers do absolutely vital work which is often unsung or even unseen, and I've been proud to lend my support to the excellent job done by Hyndburn & Ribble Valley Carers' Link."