Grandparents who become full-time carers plead: "We can't do it all for love"

One night earlier this year Stephen Merchant, 55, was contacted by his local council's children's services department. Twelve hours later, he was the full-time carer for his grandson, Charlie, who will be three years old on Wednesday. "Life changes in a phone call," says Merchant, who comes from Northampton.

He had to give up his job as a driver. "My employers offered a baby seat in the lorry," he jokes, "but Charlie comes first." Charlie was taken from Merchant's son and girlfriend when it was found that the baby had fractures. "I was the only one in the family who could change lifestyles at the time," he says. The two now live on around £250 a week, or £12,000 a year. "I'm not flush, but I can survive. The family help. I've got bags of clothes for Charlie that will keep him in trousers until he's five. He's happy at nursery. Charlie's great. He's part and parcel of my life now."

Merchant's income fell considerably when he became a full-time carer. Once he becomes a pensioner and Charlie is a teenager, the financial squeeze will become even tighter. Merchant, like most grandparents and relatives in his position, receives almost no practical or financial support.

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