Coping with his 17-year-old son's struggle with cerebral palsy means Craig Hatch knows all too well the importance of family carers.

Craig, of Broughton Cross, near Cockermouth, was inspired by his experiences to launch a social media campaign highlighting the reality of caring for someone with a disability at home.

He launched the #notanurse_but campaign with WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children.

With his wife Ellis and children Eleanor, 18, Ewan, 14, and Alexander, 13, Craig devotes his time to meeting his son Fraser's needs.

Fraser suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of birth asphyxia and requires an exhausting care regime every day.

The progressive nature of the condition means that life becomes more difficult for Fraser every year, particularly as he moves into adulthood.

Ellis left her job as a staff nurse to care for Fraser and now works part-time as an occupational therapist assistant.

Craig, director and head of asset management for WYG Group based in Cockermouth, works long hours and is regularly away from home.

This puts further stress on the family, particularly during Fraser's frequent and lengthy stays in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The 24/7 job of providing care for people with disabilities at home can include complex procedures like physiotherapy, operating equipment like nebulisers, suction, feeding tubes, pumps and ventilation.

Craig said: "Life for Fraser becomes more difficult each year and the additional pressures on him and the rest of our family are increasingly hard to alleviate.

"Home is absolutely the best place for Fraser to be after quite a few extended periods in hospital.

"Because of where we live, for that kind of clinical care it has to be at Newcastle which means one of us has to be there for weeks at a time.

"We are happy and able to raise our concerns but we fear for those people who aren't in that position.

"We hope this #notanurse_but campaign will give them an opportunity to be heard too.

"It's to raise awareness really of what people who raise disabled children in their own home do and the benefits.

"It means our children are in the right place and looked after."

Craig is encouraging others to share their experiences as family carers and what changes would benefit them using the hashtag on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook.

To prompt others to do the same, Craig has produced a short video diary demonstrating the daily challenges his family face.

For more information about the campaign, visit the website at www.wellchild.org.uk/notanurse_but