The future of a project supporting young carers is in doubt after months of delays with council funding.

Harrow Carers, which is an independent voluntary organisation helping unpaid carers, has not received new funding from Harrow Borough Council for its youth provision since the end of March.

The council has funded the Youth Carers Project, which provides free services to children and teenagers who may be caring for a loved one at home, since 2001.

Hannah Wakeman, 19, who cared for a family member while she was at school, said: "Harrow Carers helped me so much with my situation.

"It was a place where you could escape from the daily routine and where you didn't have to worry about what was going on at home.

"To think that some young carers may not be able to get the help and support I had when I needed it most is quite worrying."

Hannah, who is now at university, added: "I don't know where I would be without the youth project. I was able to just talk to people and not worry about being judged."

Respite care and group activities are among the services the project provides.

Paul Dowling, whose children have used the young carers service, said: "What is important to young people who are part of the project is that it recognises they have taken on a huge responsibility at a young age.

"But also it rewards them for taking on that responsibility and gives them the chance to have some time away from it. It's a very important organisation."

Harrow Carers estimates there are more than 24,000 people in the borough providing unpaid care for loved ones or neighbours, and up to 1,000 are believed to be between the below the age of 18.

A Harrow Council spokeswoman said: "We have been working hard with Harrow Schools over the past six months to identify young carers, so together we can support their needs much better.

"Based on our research and engagement with schools, the Harrow Carers voluntary organisation and young carers themselves, we are now designing a radically better way to support them."

The spokeswoman added the council would be continuing to fund the current service and is waiting for contracts to be finalised before money can be released.