Despite suffering from a central nerve function disease which makes her joints worse in the colder weather, Vania Burnell refuses to turn the heating on. The 52-year-old is so frightened of a huge bill that she tries to find other ways to keep warm.
Vania, who lives in Greater Manchester with her partner Darren and their son, cannot walk unaided. Relying on a four-wheeled rollator to walk, she depends on Darren - who is her full-time carer - to drive her in their mobility car if she wants to go anywhere. But because petrol prices have shot up, she hardly leaves the house, the MEN reports.
The old Victorian house where they spend most of their time is cold and dark because, like many, they are doing all they can to keep their energy bills down. She said: "We sit in the dark. We have the TV on, but we don't tend to keep any lights on anymore."
