A COMPETITION to raise self-awareness among the borough's legion of carers has resulted in a booklet of short stories.

Entitled Am I A Carer Too?, the stories were penned during National Carers Week and have now been published by Bury Council.

The competition arose from the council's concern that many people did not recognise themselves as carers and were therefore unaware of the support services available to them.

Gwen Lucas, the council's carers liaison officer, said: "A carer is someone of any age taking care of a relative, friend or neighbour who is elderly and infirm, physically or mentally disabled or is chronically sick.

"Without this care the person would be unable to manage daily life, but our experience is that carers seldom associate themselves with being a carer and therefore are unlikely to be aware of the support which is available to them.

"We wanted them to put in writing the circumstances which made them realise that they were a carer and not just a son, daughter, parent, friend or neighbour so that other carers could start to identify with them and appreciate that carers have a lot in common."

The competition was run by Bury social services, whose support includes running the Carers Centre in Bury and offering respite opportunities.

Councillor Tim Chamberlain, executive member for health and social services, said: "All the competition entries have been compiled into the booklet as a tribute to all the carers who opened their hearts and ensured that their very moving accounts are captured for others to read."

Coun Chamberlain is one of three "carers champions" in Bury alongside Eleni Ioannides, the council's director of health, housing and social services, and Stephen Mills, deputy chief executive and finance director of Bury Primary Care Trust.

The booklets are on sale through the Carers Centre (0161 764 2787) and the Manchester Jewish Federation (0161 795 0024).