Big-hearted Sue Gowland has offered to help full-time carer Merlyn Morris take a break - without charging him £9-an-hour for the privilege.

The Oxford Mail revealed yesterday how Mr Morris, 60, gets three hours' break a fortnight from caring for his 87-year-old mum Amy.

But the county council has told him his mum will now be charged £27 for a qualified carer to come and help out because of budget cuts.

After reading about the Morris's plight, care assistant Sue Gowland, of Park Road, Witney, called the Oxford Mail to offer her services free.

Mum-of-three Mrs Gowland, who works for private care providers Nurselink, said: "It really tugged at my heart strings. If the council is not willing to do this for Mr Morris, I will do it off my own back.

"It is absolutely unfair that the council can basically take the mickey out of them in this way. It will be a relatively minor sacrifice for me to go along for three hours a fortnight."

Mrs Gowland has been trained in caring for the elderly and works part-time at the Oxford Beaumont nursing home, in Boars Hill.

We put Mr Morris in touch with Mrs Gowland and the pair have agreed to meet to discuss arrangements.

Mr Morris, of Shakespeare Road, Eynsham, said: "I am not going to be charged until the council have had their meeting in the autumn so I may contact Mrs Gowland after that. I am very grateful to her."

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