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The increasingly common plight of fuel poverty among the elderly has been highlighted after a pensioner was found wandering the streets in tears because her home was too cold to stay in.

The vulnerable, freezing 71-year-old woman was found by Reeco Rees, Carl Casey and Carl Vickers, who were donating food and items of clothing to the homeless in Swansea at the time.

Mr Rees said: “We were stood outside Primark when we spotted the woman walking with a frame.

“She was in tears and looked really upset so we asked her if she wanted soup or hot chocolate as we had a stove which we were using to heat it up to give to those who needed it.

“She said she didn’t want it, I asked her what she wanted and she said clothes as she was freezing.

“We then gave her a hat, gloves, scarf set and some hoodies.

“She told us that she was going to Mcdonald’s to warm up as her flat was too cold to stay in,” the 55 year-old from Morriston added.

The trio then put money together to help the woman keep warm in the fast food restaurant.

“We gave the manager at Mcdonald’s £30 to allow her to stay inside and keep warm.

“It’s heartbreaking to see, it’s hard not to get emotionally involved.

“As much as I love Swansea, it can be a tough place, she was freezing, it really affected us.”

(Image: PA)

Carl Casey, aged 40, from Cwmavon said the trio are trying to help the woman, who they said was called Mary, as much as they can.

He said: “We would love to try and help Mary with her gas and electric so her flat is no longer cold.”

According to Age Cymru one older person dies every seven minutes from the cold during winter months, with many struggling in retirement to pay for the extra cost of fuel.

The charity’s deputy chief executive Victoria Lloyd said: “While any excess winter deaths are regrettable, it is hugely frustrating that nearly 2,000 older people in Wales are dying in winter from largely preventable diseases.

“For example, many of the respiratory diseases can be cured by enabling people to live in warm, insulated homes that are free from damp and drafty conditions.

“While more effective financial support and advice would help more older people to heat their homes during winter.

“If anyone needs advice and support about staying healthy in winter can call our free advice line on 08000 223 444.”

Meanwhile, the three men who helped Mary are also trying to raise as much money as they can to help buy equipment for the homeless in Swansea and Neath.

“In December we started going out some evenings in Swansea and Neath where we set up stalls to hand out food and items of clothing to the homeless.

“We can’t be there 24/7 but we ask the homeless to give us a list of items of clothing or food that they need and we will do everything we can to give it to them,” the 40 year-old property developer said.

Carl Vickers, from Portmead added: “Our aim is to raise enough money to hopefully be able to open up a centre where homeless people can come to shower and stay.

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