The majority of carers (81%) are not aware of the support, which is available to them, according to a new survey to launch Carer's Week.

The survey of more than 2,100 careers showed that three quarters were not prepared for all aspects of caring, while 35% believe they were given the wrong advice about the support on offer.

The organisers of Carer's Week, which starts today, estimate there are 6.5m carers in the UK and around 6,000 people taking on a new caring role every day.

‘The figures clearly show that many carers aren't being offered support and if they are, it can often be wrong or not the full information,' said Carer's Week manager, Helen Clarke.

Shadow care minister, Liz Kendall, called for urgent action to improve the care system.

‘Labour has called for £1.2bn overspend, handed back to the Treasury in March, to be given to social care to ease the short-term funding crisis over the next two years,' she said.