Unpaid carers of people with mental health problems are being given help to take a break.

They are being invited to claim vouchers for holidays and complementary therapy treatments.

Oxfordshire Carers Support Project, which is run by mental health charity Rethink, set up the initiative after receiving £16,000 from the Government's carers special grant budget.

About 40 people have already benefited from the Time Out scheme and the group wants more of Oxfordshire's 8,000 carers to apply.

It has launched a publicity campaign to attract more carers in the run-up to national Carers' Week, which started on June 9.

Vouchers for treatments such as massage and acupuncture can be redeemed at natural health centres in Oxford, Banbury, Wantage, Wallingford and Henley.

Week-long holidays to London and Wales can be arranged for carers who need a break. Grants up to £100 are also available for items to help carers in their work.

Oxfordshire Carers Support co-ordinator Jan Kidd said: "Not enough is done to support carers and this goes a little way towards making that better.

"Carers can sometimes get so involved in dealing with the needs of their relatives that they miss out on the time or space to think about their own well-being. This enables them to take a step back and have a well-deserved break."

For more details about Time Out, call 01865 455607.