A dad whose energy bills soared to more than £1,000 a month has insulated his home with cardboard in an attempt to save money.
Nigel Cleall, 51, lives with his 12-year-old son Oliver in a ground-floor flat that he said was so chilly he has considered moving them both into his garden shed as "it is warmer".
In a bid to keep the heat inside his home, the single dad bought 100m of industrial packing cardboard for £1 from eBay.
The lorry driver has now used it to cover the walls and ceilings of the 1950s two-bed home in Martley, Worcs, which he hopes will keep it warm this winter.
Nigel said: “I'm basically heating Martley; when I put my heating on, it goes through the ceiling. The roof is over 27 years old.
"I'm heating up my street, not my house. The heating just goes through the house because there is no insulation.
"I come home from work and can't put the heating on. I can't afford it, I'm a single dad.
"Last year, I could only afford to put the heating on when my boys were coming down to stay with me but I can't even afford that now.
"If I did that now, it would cost me £78 just for two days. Last year, it cost me £120-a-week on electric, now I'm looking at £192-a-week and I cannot afford it.
"I can't afford nearly £200-a-month on my electric, so basically we will be living in my front room.
"All I want is a comfy home for me and my son, Oliver.”
Nigel said he was forced to take action after Platform Housing Association, which owns the flat, failed to fix the heating system or provide adequate insulation.
He said the firm came to his home with a thermal imaging camera which showed heat “leaking out”.
Nigel added: “I go to work, and I keep my nose clean and I am not a criminal.
"I do everything by the book and you just don't get anywhere, it is just wrong.
“The windows are 18 years old, the roof leaks when it rains and it’s so cold I have to wear a coat while I watch TV.
"My plan of action is to cardboard up my walls in the front room. Obviously, I will have to use my other rooms but I will live in my front room during the winter.”
Dennis Evans, executive director (Property Management) at Platform Housing Group said: "We are sorry to hear of Mr Cleall's concerns and are pleased to report a replacement bath is due to be installed later this month.
"With regards to the customer's heating, we have no outstanding jobs at his home. However, we are due to attend a routine heating service as part of our yearly cycle.
"Earlier this month we also sent one of our surveyors to visit Mr Cleall to discuss his concerns."
