A single mum with two children under 10 was using a candle wax melter and a gas fire to make beans on toast, because she couldn't afford any proper cooking equipment. A councillor says he was shocked by the sight and has since arranged a donation for the family.
Councillor Gerard Woodhouse said he felt 'deeply saddened and physically sick' by what he saw in home while he was dropping supplies to the family - and said he had "cried non stop".
He told the Echo : "I went into the house and the little girl opened the door and took me through to the living room. The mum had bread on a knife holding it to the gas fire and a candle holder heating some beans. To see that in this day and age knocked me sick.
"I say it all the time but I'm not amazed at what I see in this job. You've got to be hard to deal with it - but this took its toll on me. If I didn't see it for myself I wouldn't believe someone was having to make beans using a candle holder."
Cllr Woodhouse said he has supplied the Liverpool family with a microwave oven and a slow cooker and a company has offered a cooker. But he fears there could be incidents which are far worse in the coming months with the cost of living set to soar.
He said: "The council can't help because it has no money. Everything is going up in price and it's going to have a big knock on effect on people. This is even before the energy price increase. People before could afford to get £10 of energy but now they can only afford five.
"I got told stories about what it was like having to grow up in the 30s, but I honestly think we could be in a worse situation now. We try our best and try and help everyone, but I'm scared we're going to have a situation where we find a body in a house. I just feel what we're trying to do is falling on deaf ears and people aren't listening."
