I AM writing with reference to a letter published in the December 30 edition of the Hereford Times.

I want to thank the person who wrote in to thank carers in this country.

I have been a carer for nearly ten years and, at one stage, I was caring for two people at the same time.

Most carers take on the role willingly, others are thrown into it and others don't even know they are doing it.

As carers we do save this country billions of pounds every year, because there isn't a government that could afford to pay us what we're actually worth.

What gets most carers is the lack of help and the back up that is needed to carry out this task.

I have had to deal with five different social service departments, four of those in South Wales and I have to say that Hereford has the worst social services that I have come across. You are forever chasing them up and, if you ring them, you are always asked if it's urgent. People wouldn't be ringing up if it wasn't urgent. If something is bothering a carer then it is important.

The problem needs to be addressed in Herefordshire because, if carers become sick due to their heavy workloads, what is going to happen to the people they care for?

Our MP should be looking at this problem, because he obviously doesn't realise how bad things are.

I do this job because I want to but that does not mean that people should take advantage.

MRS LYNDA WULLER, Highmore Street, Westfields, Hereford.