CARD players are being asked to get their poker faces on for a whopping 24 hours to raise money for unpaid carers.

Grosvenor Casino, in the Park Inn Palace Hotel, Southend, is holding a 24-hour poker tournament tomorrow evening in aid of the Carers’ Trust, which provides support to unpaid carers who look after friends or family members and struggle to cope.

The marathon game is intended to highlight the round-the-clock care these people provide and the casino is expecting to gather 40 players for the tournament with each member providing a donation of £5 and all money from the rake also going to the charity.

Grosvenor Casinos has so far helped the Carers’ Trust raise more than £500,000 for the country’s estimated seven million carers.

One of these, 15-year-old Laura Price from Leigh was treated to an impromptu gig in her back garden by her favourite band, The Vamps, at the weekend.

Filmed for ITV’s Surprise Surprise, Laura is a carer for her younger brother and sister, both of whom are disabled.

The poker tournament will begin at 7pm and, for more information, call 01702 411610 or visit www.grosvenorcasinos.com/local-casinos/southend-on-sea Photographic identification is required.