A shopkeeper has told how he has a "wall of receipts" from desperate customers who can't afford to pay. Abid Hussain says while his staff have always let people have items "on tick" it has been getting worse.
The East Cleveland storekeeper says most people do return as soon as they can afford to pay their bill but others don't. And he fears the situation is going to get worse as the cost of living spirals upwards, reports Teesside Live.
Abid, who runs the Family Mart convenience store on High Street, Lingdale, said: "Some of them can't afford it. Some are a bit embarrassed, they promise you 'next week'.
"I don't count it, but there must be £2,000 worth of receipts on the wall. It goes right round."
Abid says people are struggling and they want to help where they can. He said: "We are a small village and people are going through difficult times.
"We're a local, community-serving business. People are already suffering - you can see it already. With fuel bills going up, it's only going to get worse. We've done this for many years, people are already in hardship.
"It's hard for a small business, we have overheads at the end of the day. Our electricity is going up."
Abid wants to give away 20 to 30 "free, hot meals" over the winter. He is hoping to work with the parish council on a voucher scheme. "This winter is going to be horrible for people," he said.
"When the prices start going up, some people will really feel it. It really is going to get bad. We have to look out for our vulnerable people.
"Some people come straight in and ask, others are proud and they don't want to. But they can come in and hand the voucher over and take a hot meal. We need to all work together."
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