Huddersfield Solicitor Nigel Priestley is fighting for a grandmother caring for her teenage grandaughter.

Nigel Priestley of Ridley and Hall on Market Street has taken up the case of the woman, who he believes is being underpaid by her council.

The woman who can’t be named for legal reason, receives £63.36 a week from Kent County Council that is £100 less than she would get if she was not a blood relative of her foster child.

Mr Priestley said “The council pays its kinship carers at a significantly lower rate. My client claims that if she had not stepped in to care for her ganddaughter in 2004, the council would have had to place the girl with foster carers who would be paid at the full rate”

The grandmother has won permission for a judicial review agianst the council which will be heard later this year.

Mr Priestley said “This is not an isolated case. Kent County Council takes a very rigid approach to family carers. I have three other similar cases at the moment. Many carers could find themselves short-changed by Kent County Council.”

“The council is keen to reduce the number of looked after children on their books but are not so keen to fulfil their legal responsibilities to these carers.”

“I think I’m dealing with the tip of the iceberg”