Looking after a sick or infirm relative on a full-time basis would test the mettle of the most capable adult.

When that responsiblity falls to a child, the pressure must be even greater.

Children should learn responsiblity at an early age, but only up to a point. The rest of the time should be spent getting an education and having fun, in roughly equal measures.

So the news that as many as 6,000 young people in Oxfordshire spend much of their spare time caring for a parent or relative who is sick or disabled comes as a big surprise.

That turns to shock when it becomes clear that they have virtually no outside support, save for the poorly-funded charities that do such a fantastic job deputising for the Government in such matters.

The three organisations in Oxfordshire which support young carers have not exactly been showered with cash from central or local government.

All deserve more backing than they have had to date.

So too do the marvellous young people they are there to help.