A BEREAVED Oldbury husband, who spent 10 years caring for his wife, is due to plead with politicians in Downing Street tomorrow to stop cuts to services which give vital support to carers.

David Upson is representing Dementia UK at the Carers Week reception at Number 10 at which ministers will be told that nearly 90 per cent of unpaid carers in the West Midlands fear the consequences of the austerity measures and half do not know how they will cope as the axe falls.

Adult social care services, which support families affected by illness and disability, are facing £1 billion worth of cuts in 2011-12 at a time when £245 million worth of new services will be needed, due to the aging population, according to social services directors.

“It’s stressful enough caring for someone who is ill, without worrying that you’ll lose the person who helps you to get your wife up or that the day centre is under threat.

“I understand that we all have to take the strain, but It seems they are picking on the most vulnerable, “ said Mr Upson, whose wife Joan had dementia and died in April, aged 79.

He now works with Dementia UK, Better Understanding for Dementia in Sandwell (BUDS) and Unique People, a group which is setting up courses on caring for carers.

But he said that information and help for dementia patients and their families from the statutory authorities was no better now than 10 years ago.

“People with dementia are almost ignored. You have to fight for every bit of information and help,” said Mr Upson, of Bleakhouse Road.

Throughout his wife’s illness, he brightened his days playing his alter-ego Santa around Christmas time for a decade, appearing at schools, nursing homes and churches.

Last year he made 60 appearances - a further four were cancelled due to the bad weather - and, although he does it voluntarily, any donations go the dementia charities.

Dementia UK estimates carers save the West Midlands economy £11.1 billion and the UK £119 billion each year by relieving pressure on health and social services and serving their communities.

The Carers Week campaign, The True Face of Carers, calls for greater recognition and support for carers and is backed by celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Jason, Jack Charlton, Martin Lewis and Angela Rippon, who all have experience of caring.