A CARER from Weymouth has launched a petition asking for more time off work for people who look after ill loved ones.

June Hamon, 55, cares for her husband, Mac, who suffers from mesothelioma - a life-limiting form of lung cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.

He was diagnosed with the illness in September 2015.

June said: "It is non operable and normally the lifespan from diagnosis is from 12 months to two years."

Mac has recently undergone chemotherapy to treat his illness and has reacted badly, meaning that he requires additional care.

This has created a tough balancing act for June, who also cares for her elderly father, in terms of work arrangements.

June said: "I work full time and trying to juggle work with caring for him is very difficult.

"There must be thousands of people in the same position as me.

"As a worker, I am not entitled to any time off so I have to take time off as flexitime or annual leave.

"If I was pregnant, I could get the time off by law, but as a carer of a loved one who is dying, you get nothing.

"I want to get the law changed because more and more people are becoming carers."

She said she was shocked that there was not better protection for carers within employment law.

"Until you actually get into it, you kind of make the assumption that carers are being treated fairly, but they are actually not," June added.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: "DCC, Bournemouth Borough Council, the Borough of Poole and the Clinical Commissioning Group are currently working on a 'Carers Vision' with Dorset Carers to offer appropriate support services for carers.

"This will help them to continue in their caring role while maintaining their health and wellbeing and wherever possible to support them to fulfil their potential as individuals.

"The Carers Vision will be launched in carers week on June 6, 2016.

"Carers UK has information about what you are entitled to in your workplace as a carer, including your right to request flexible working, take time off for emergencies and work without discrimination."

The petition must acquire 10,000 signatures by September in order to garner an official response from the government.

If 100,000 people sign the petition, the issue will be considered for debate in Parliament.

The petition can be found at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/124317.