CROYDON'S 33,000 carers play "a phenomenally important" role in the life of the borough, Croydon North MP Steve Reed said on Monday.
He was speaking at the National Carers Week launch at the Croydon Carers' Centre in Katharine Street, Croydon.
Mr Reed was invited to speak at the launch as the Parliamentary successor to Malcolm Wicks, who died last year.
Mr Wicks was president of the Carers' Centre and was widely regarded as a champion of carers, for his committed support of their cause. He also successfully steered a Private Member's Bill through Parliament which, for the first time, time recognised the right of carers to have their needs assessed.
Mr Reed said he wanted to be able to support carers in the same way that Mr Wicks had done.
Mr Reed was joined at the launch by Croydon's two other Conservative MPs, Gavin Barwell and Richard Ottaway, mayor of Croydon Yvette Hopley and EastEnders actor Vicky Alcock.
He told carers: "The fact all three MPs and the mayor are here is a sign of just how valued carers are. You are the unsung members of our community."
Without their extraordinary and phenomenally work, he added, there would be greater pressure on care homes, hospitals and social workers.
But Mr Reed added: "It is important that we remember the needs that carers have too.
"It is very important that, in times when there is less money about, we don't overburden carers so that they can no longer cope."
The Carers' Centre is in contact with some 6,500 of the borough's carers, and in the last year has dealt with around 14,500 calls for advice and support.