A pensioner in Derry will have to dip into her funeral fund in order to survive due to the rise in living costs, according to a local councillor.
Ulster Unionist Councillor Ryan McCready made the revelation after he said he was out visiting constituents in the local area on Thursday.
The local elected rep, who is standing in the upcoming NI Assembly election, said the pensioner had five gas bills alone in January.
He is calling for the Department for Communities to take action and provide additional support.
It comes ahead of a rally taking place at Guildhall Square on February 12 over the rise in energy costs.
"Yesterday morning I had an appointment with a constituent with an enquiry about the cost of living," said Cllr McCready.
"She is a pensioner, late 70's, who lives alone, she presented me her last five payments of gas bills, which I thought would've been for the last quarter, but it was all for the month of January.
"At one point her gas ran out, cut off for lack of payment, and when the gas man came to check, she made a payment and she thought her gas meter was faulty due to constant bills, it was not."
He added: "Adding up her gas bills for the month of January at a total of £160 to heat a small bungalow for one adult, this is unsustainable and if it continues she is having to use her funeral fund to pay for the price rise.
"The biggest problems facing Foyle residents are fuel poverty and the housing crisis, it's days like this where I wish I was in Stormont to ask the questions to the minister myself."
