Carers in Hellesdon could soon have a support group – and an event this week will help to show how much need there is.

As part of National Carers Week, which is taking place this week, Care for Carers has organised an event at Hellesdon Community Centre, in Wood View Road, from 10am to midday on Friday.

Care for Carers chairman Peter Rowley said he was asked by Norwich North MP Chloe Smith to look into if there was a need for a support group in Hellesdon.

He said: 'There are support groups in Norwich, but some carers don't have cars and find it difficult to travel to them, so we wanted to see if we could set something up in Hellesdon for carers there.

'There are an awful lot of carers out there, many of whom have an awful lot of problems, and we want them to know that something can be done and help is out there.'

A range of different organisations will be at the event on Friday, including Norwich and District Carers Forum, Age UK Norfolk, Mind, West Norwich Lions, Norwich in Bloom, carers' website www.chill4us.com, Autism Anglia, Crossroads Care, Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Trust, the Matthew Project and digital television help organisation Go Digital.

Miss Smith, right, said: 'Thousands of people in Norwich North sacrifice not only their time, but also their money and their health in order to care for a loved one. Together they save this country an astonishing �119bn. They deserve to be recognised for their contribution to both our local community and to wider society.

'I am taking part in Carers Week to show my respect and appreciation for our carers. I also want to let them know that there are services out there to help them. Caring can be so incredibly demanding. It's important that carers know that they don't have to struggle on alone.'

Mr Rowley, who is also campaigning for a discretionary hour of free bus travel between 8.30am and 9.30am for blind people to be reinstated by Norfolk County Council, can be heard on Carers Corner on Norwich's Future Radio on 107.8FM on the last Thursday of every month at 1.30pm.

The first Carers Corner radio programme will be aired on June 30 and will feature Julie Kemmy from the Nofolk Coalition of Disabled People answering questions about disability living allowance.

For more information about Care for Carers and the petition, log on to www.careforcarers.co.uk or call 01603 741160.

The Norfolk Carers Helpline, on 0808 808 9876, is a good first point of contact for carers wanting to know what help is available for them.

Read Friday's Evening News for a special report into the work of carers in the city.

Does someone you know care beyond the call of duty? We want to hear about it. Contact health reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk.