Pensioner left ‘eating eggs on toast for Christmas dinner and has £1.67 in her bank’

She has since had '60 days-worth' of food bought for her

A plumber has revealed the impact the cost of living crisis is having on some, after he visited an elderly woman this Christmas.

James Anderson runs community interest company Depher UK, which provides emergency repairs for the vulnerable, and visited a pensioner in Blackburn to fix her leaking tap.

But he was shocked to see her empty fridge, which contained just some eggs, yoghurts, orange juice, margarine and some cabbage in a jar.

He wrote on social media: "An 89-year-old lady with only £1.67 in the bank until mid-January. Three presents from friends, a few cards.

"She is having eggs on toast for her Christmas dinner.

"I went to see her to repair a leaking tap, and she cried on my shoulder for 40 minutes."

After seeing how bare her fridge was, he decided to organise a food shop from Asda for the woman which was delivered on Wednesday. He said that the food would now "last her 60 days" and will ensure she has a "nice Christmas dinner." https://twitter.com/Depheruk/status/1605682291497476121 James set up Depher (Disability and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair) in 2017 to help elderly and disabled people struggling to pay for repairs. Related links:

• Brits agree to ‘no present pacts’ this Xmas as cost-of-living crisis bites
• Glasgow plumber axes £120 call-out charge for pensioners this winter
• Heartbreaking letters to Santa on pub Christmas tree highlight cost of living crisis as children ask for 'clean clothes' and 'anything'