UNPAID carers - who save Redbridge taxpayers a whopping £345million every year - say they have been “slapped in the face” after the council snubbed a landmark event setting out their future.

London Mayor Boris Johnson held a Carers Health Conference at City Hall to draft a ten year plan for bringing health and social needs of carers together - but no representative from the local authority or Primary Care Trust turned up.

Mum-of-two Helen Coughlan, of Roding Lane North, Woodford Bridge, has looked after her severely disabled brother for more than 30 years and was furious nobody chose to attend.

She said: “It’s a real slap in the face. How can we set up a London strategy for carers when they are not going to be there? I’m disgusted with them.

“They should have sent at least one person to represent the borough especially considering the millions of pounds that carers save taxpayers every year.”

“Maybe a free lunch wasn’t enough. How can they implement change when they don't know what is going to happen?”

Latest figures say there are 23,784 unpaid carers in Redbridge - part of a national workforce that contributes £87billion to healthcare in the UK.

Redbridge received a “strongly improving” rating and three out of four possible stars in the latest The Audit Commission into Social Services.

A Carers UK spokeswoman said: “The meeting was a very helpful event and I think the local authority would have benefited from being there.

“It will affect many people across London and we want carers to have a higher profile across the capital.”

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: "Redbridge Council is fully committed to the needs of carers which is recognised in its three star Adult Social Services status.

"Adult Social Services works in close partnership with Redbridge Carers Support Service, our Voluntary Sector Partnership with Carers and the Redbridge Networking Carers Forum.

"We and our partners provide services, information and advice to carers, consultations and promotions including National Carer's Week and Carer's Rights events.

"In response to the National Carers Strategy Adult Social Services held a conference in November 2008 to start the work on developing a new joint carers strategy with NHS Redbridge.

"This conference raised awareness of the priorities in the national strategy and helped identify proposed actions for inclusion.

"The attendance included people from a range of statutory and voluntary agencies, local employers and carers.

"We are very aware of the important role carers provide and value their expertise.

"We are committed to continue working with carers and enable them to have a life of their own alongside their caring responsibilities."