Interim research into 'hidden' carers published last week by the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre in Perth and Kinross identified 200 young carers in that area alone.
A survey of secondary and primary schools found that children aged 12 formed the largest group of carers. More than 25 per cent of carers were missing school.
According to the 2001 census there are 17,000 young carers in Scotland. But the Trust said that figure is likely to under-represent the true number, because of ignorance of what constitutes a young carer and because people may be reluctant to label themselves or their child as such.
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