The darkness

Cash-strapped Jason Alcock from Stoke can only afford to heat one room and is living in darkness this winter to try to combat his rising bills, ...

It's the first time in my life I'm glad she isn't here to see this and that's sad. I think we're going to lose a lot of people in Stoke-on-Trent.' Cash-strapped Jason Alcock can only afford to heat one room and is living in darkness this winter to try to combat his rising bills. Jason cared for his wife Paola at their home before her death but he says this year is the first time in his life that he's felt glad that she's not here to see the current cost-of-living crisis. My living room is basically not used and I've shut the TV and everything down in there.' I watch TV in my bed because it's cheaper and I don't need to have the heating on.