YOUNG carers will get their moment in the spotlight – as thousands of pupils dress down for Young Carers Awareness Day.

Fourteen schools across Swindon are holding non-uniform days on Thursday to raise awareness of the often difficult role young carers play – looking after parents and siblings with complex health needs.

A further nine schools will organise activities in aid of the national awareness day.

Swindon Carers Centre supports more than 900 young carers – some as young as five-years-old – in the town.

The charity's schools development officer Ann Giles said: “Schools are going out of their way to organise activities to show hoe important and valued young carers are and how many other children are just like them and have a caring role.

“It also lets children without a caring role appreciate what a young carer does and how they could support them.

“We hope more and more schools will be able to come together year after year to mark this day and support these amazing young people.”

For more information about the Swindon Young Carers programme, call Ann Giles on 01793 531133.