Family child carers’ £19k

SOME grandparents would earn more than double the state pension if they got paid the going rate for childcare services.

At the £9 average hourly rate for babysitters, they would make £19,000 a year for a 40-hour week, Childcare.co.uk calculated.

The study found more than half of parents relied on grandparents to step in at least three times a week.

And a quarter needed support four days a week.

Richard Conway, of the site, said: “Grandparents deserve recognition.”