CARERS in the Cotswolds feel they may have to quit their jobs over rocketing fuel prices.

Many fear the move could mean their older patients are forced to move into nursing homes.

Annie Cox, community carer for a private company, said a car was vital for the job and while she receives a fuel allowance it no longer covers the spiralling prices.

Mrs Cox, 52, told the Standard: "Fuel goes up on an alarmingly regular basis, I'm finding it hard to keep up. We need to keep our cars on the road in order to do our jobs."

The increase coincides with oil companies announcing record profits.

Last month Shell and BP recorded profits of £3.92b and £3.32b respectively for the first three months of the year.

Mrs Cox, who has clients between Lechlade and Meysey Hampton, said many colleagues had already quit to take up jobs in nursing homes.

"It will be the elderly, the sick and the most vulnerable who will suffer most," she added.

"Why should they be made to suffer because of the greed of the fat cats who appear to hold this country to ransom?"

The effects of the increasing costs also worried Christina Snell, chief executive officer for Age Concern Gloucestershire: "We would be concerned if the rising fuel costs resulted in the quality or availability of care being reduced," she said.

Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown shared a similar opinion: "This is a real concern, it's clearly a very serious matter. I think every company is going to have to review its mileage allowance. The Government will have to look at the taxation structure."

However, spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council, Amy Didcote, played down the situation: "Mileage allowances to domiciliary care staff who need to use their car to undertake duties within the community are reviewed on an annual basis.

"Staff have recently been informed of the new rates of car allowances and will receive a back-dated payment to April 1 2008."