'I go to bed because I can't afford the heating'

A woman has told how she has to go to bed in the evening to keep warm because she can only afford to heat her home for two hours a day.

Jean Hull, 73, from Grangetown in Sunderland, said rooms in her home were often only 10C (50F) - an ideal room should be between 18-21C.

She said she felt that changing the rules on the payment of the winter fuel allowance was "wrong" and that promises to pensioners had been "broken."

The government said it was supporting older people and one million pensioners were still receiving the payment this winter.

Bosses at warm hubs across the city said they had seen a rise in older people relying on their services since changes were made to the allowance.

Mrs Hull, who lost her husband John on Christmas Eve five years ago, said her fuel bill was £100 per month.

"I have to go to bed just to keep warm, there's nothing else you can do," she said.

"But you just have to get on, that's all you can do."

She also said she wears multiple layers of clothing to keep out the chill.

Health experts recommend that during cold weather spells, the homes of those over 65 should be least 18C (65F).

Mrs Hull believes it is unfair that the government scrapped the winter fuel allowance for about 10 million people.

"It's wrong, it's really wrong they promise you one thing and do you receive it, no," she said.

The government said it was "committed to supporting pensioners" and it was "driving the uptake of Pension Credit."

She regularly attends warm hubs run by the Pallion Action Group.

"It is a lifeline, you get the support and the help you need," she said.

"You can trust them. If I ever need to call them, they're straight on the phone offering me advice."

Charity centre manager, Karen Noble said there had been an increase in the number of "vulnerable, people struggling" coming for advice and support.

She said: "We knew winter was coming and people were going to struggle, so we got things like draught excluders and are ready with practical advice."

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