Lesley Barnett and her daughter Sarann share more than the usual mother-and-daughter bond.

The caring role was reversed for the youngster when, at the age of just four, she became her beloved mum's eyes.

Lesley was left partially-sighted following an accident 14 years ago but her eyesight rapidly deteriorated to the extent where she has difficulty picking out shapes.

"In the past year-and-a-half my eyesight has deteriorated," explains Lesley. "I can't see colours any more but the worst thing is I can only see Sarann's shape, I can't see her face any more."

She may not be able to see what her daughter does for her but Lesley certainly appreciates her caring deeds. "She's been brought up with it," says Lesley. "From the age of four or five she was aware I couldn't find things so she would get things for me.

"And I don't go out without her unless I can get a taxi from A to B. She does my reading, finds things for me, takes me shopping, everything. She runs my bath, washes my hair. She is my eyes."

The only thing that nine-year-old Sarann doesn't do for her mum is cook. Lesley says the youngster acts as her guide, telling her the cooking times and guiding her to place food on the plates.

Viewers of long-running children's programme Blue Peter recently gleaned an insight into Sarann and Lesley's special relationship when presenter Andy Akinwolere spent 24 hours living the youngster's life at the family's Bradford home. It gave Sarann chance to play out and do things that most youngsters take for granted.

The programme was filmed to launch Blue Peter's campaign, Disc Drive. Viewers are encouraged to take their unwanted CDs, DVDs and computer games to Barnardo's shops to raise funds for the children's charity's invaluable work supporting children and young carers like Sarann, who receives her own key worker through the charity.

Peter Rutherford, service manager of Bradford Young Carers, explains the service originally provided breaks for young carers when it was set up by Barnardo's in 1994.

Since then, it has been developed to deliver a comprehensive package of support. Key workers are assigned to young carers and their families to assess their needs. They also provide trips for the family, enabling parents to spend quality time with their children outside the home environment.

"Young carers do play a very important role," says Mr Rutherford. "There is a lot of debate about whether they should be doing it and what is the level of impact on them, but that is the crucial part of what we do. The key to success is taking time out to find what families want as a whole and to make sure there is a best outcome for every member."

Sarann is one of several thousand young carers throughout the UK whose invaluable support is not only felt within their own families but throughout society.

The support young carers provide helps to alleviate the cost which would otherwise be levied on the NHS providing paid workers to carry out a similar role.

Many may argue that it is a high price to pay. For youngsters like Sarann, caring for a parent can see part of their childhood snatched away, something Lesley is conscious of.

"I am totally dependent on Sarann which hurts me because she has to look after me," she says.

As a thank you for Sarann's participation in Blue Peter, presenter Andy and the camera crew took Sarann and Lesley on a surprise week-long trip to Sarann's dream destination, Egypt.

Says Sarann: "We studied it at school, I am really fascinated by the Egyptians. It's the pyramids and King Tutankhamun - I wanted to learn more about him. It was such an experience. I loved every bit of it."

Lesley had a fun time too. "It was fabulous," she says.

Since the trip, the pair's feet haven't really touched the ground. Shortly afterwards they were rubbing shoulders with royalty and other dignitaries when they were introduced to Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who is patron of Barnardo's, at the opening of the new Tutankhamun exhibition in London.

Sarann recalls Prince Charles greeting them and shaking their hands and the Duchess asking her about being a young carer. "We took lots of pictures and they are now on my wall," says Sarann proudly.

And, of course, she was eager to tell the other important person in her life about her trip - her mum's sister, Sandra Edwards.

Lesley says Sandra has remained a constant support to the family since Sarann was a baby. "She's her second mum!" laughs Lesley.

"I don't really get to play out as much because I'm normally catching up with school work or helping mum, but I do get to relax when I go out with Auntie Sandra on a Saturday morning," says Sarann.

Sandra, who has two sons aged 24 and 25 and runs Sundial Sandwiches in Great Horton Road, says: "She's brilliant. She is the daughter I never had."

  • For more information about Blue Peter's Disc Drive appeal visit www.discdrive.org. To find out more about the Barnardo's visit www.barnardos.org.uk; call 020 8550 8822 or visit the shop at 47 Darley Street, Bradford.