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More than a quarter of Preston residents who are entitled to receive carer’s allowance are not actually claiming the benefit.

A meeting of Preston City Council heard that 983 out of the 3,443 people eligible for the cash support - 28.6 percent - are going without it.

Those who spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone – and meet other certain criteria – are entitled to a payment for their caring role, which currently amounts to £67.25 per week.

In order to be eligible for the allowance, the carer must have weekly earnings of less than £128, while the person being cared for has to be in receipt of certain other benefits.

If most of your week is spent caring for someone and you meet certain criteria, you could be entitled to a government allowance - but hundreds of Preston residents are missing out

The figures emerged as part of a motion put forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Jewell.

He called for the authority to do more to promote the availability of carer’s allowance by including details of it on residents’ annual council tax bills.

However, he also wants to see the government add an extra £20 a week – or £1,000 a year – to the benefit.

One in four Preston residents are missing out on benefit for providing care