Campaigner for carers' rights nominated for award

Janice Clark began caring for her mum 24 hours a day after she had a stroke

A woman who looked after her mother after she had a stroke and has campaigned for carers' rights has been shortlisted for an award.

Janice Clark, 80, began caring for her mum 24 hours a day in the 1980s.

Mrs Clark, from Guildford, has campaigned for unpaid carers to be treated fairly by authorities.

She has been shortlisted for a prize at Carers UK's first ever awards.

Mrs Clark said: "There are 120,000 adult carers in Surrey - that's unpaid carers - and about 14,000 young carers in Surrey."

She said the work they do has "an annual financial value" of about £190bn.

Mrs Clark described it as "the cost of another NHS".

She was involved in implementing an accreditation requiring mental health services to support carers of people with mental health problems, and has backed suicide awareness training for carers.

On Thursday Mrs Clark will attend a ceremony at London's Plaisterers' Hall, hosted by Episodes star Stephen Mangan.

The judges include business leaders, Carers UK representatives and Tiggy Walker, who cared for her late husband, Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker.

Carers UK chief executive, Helen Walker, said she was "delighted" the "inspirational work" of carers would be celebrated at the awards.