A TEA party was held on Friday to acknowledge carers who look after relatives, friends or neighbours.

The party at the Cowick Barton Inn was organised by St Thomas Medical Group carer support worker Denise Knowles and the surgery's League of Friends, which she is co-ordinator of.

She said: "It was a small way to acknowledge the important work carers do. We invited the carers and also those being cared for.

"We have 170 carers on our list, but we know there is more than 1,000 others we don't know about.

"We would encourage those people who are caring for someone to identify themselves as a carer to their doctors' surgery so they can receive the help and support they deserve and need."