Hundreds of carers are missing out on vital support because they have not asked for their needs to be assessed.

East Sussex County Council is launching a county-wide series of roadshows in a bid to bolster the number of carers who are assessed to see how the council may be able to help them.

More than 50,000 people provide care in East Sussex, which has the highest proportion of over-85s in England and Wales.

They are entitled to a variety of benefits such as paid-for breaks from caring, training courses or equipment to make their lives easier.

Bill Bentley, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "We estimate that hundreds, if not more, are unaware of the support we could give them.

"In fact, many people care for someone for years without even realising they are a carer and we are keen to identify more people providing this sort of unpaid care. We want them to know they are not alone.

"There are a number of ways we can help them, both financially and by other support, and we are encouraging anyone who might benefit to come to one of our roadshows to have a carer's assessment or to book one for a later date.

"We particularly want to see those members of the public who provide unpaid care and support for a family member, neighbour or friend, who is living at home."

The roadshows are being announced today as the county council publishes a draft, three year strategy for carers' services, which aims to involve carers in decisions about how services are provided.

Coun Bentley said: "Carers provide a truly wonderful service to their family, friends and the community as a whole, by giving up their time to help others.

We want to make sure that wherever possible we look after them, too."

More than ten per cent of the county's population look after relatives or friends with physical or mental disabilities or illnesses.

Carer exhaustion has been identified as one factor that sometimes leads to elderly people having to move into longterm residential care after admission to hospital rather than being able to return home with appropriate support in place. Surveys conducted by the council have shown that about one-in-six of the 7,000 older carers in East Sussex, who care for more than 20 hours per week, stated that they were not in good health.

The roadshows will enable people to receive an assessment there and then and to find out what support is on offer. There will be a range of organisations on hand offering free advice, information and support.

The plan is to provide more roadshows throughout next year, using different venues, to give as many carers as possible the chance to attend.

The first of seven free sessions across the county begins at 10.30am on December 1 at Heathfield Community Centre, ending at 3.30pm. There will be follow-up events at Hastings, Polegate, St Leonards, Newhaven, Bexhill and Eastbourne on December 8.

For more information about the roadshows or to book a carer's assessment, email social caredirect@eastsussex.gov.uk or call 0845 608 0191.