Case study sheila, age 80

A WIDOW says people will die this winter because of a Tory government that does not care.

Sheila Correll, 80, says ministers have no idea how some pensioners are suffering as she told how she rations her food.

She skips meals, only uses the oven once a week and – despite her age – goes out running to warm up because she can’t afford to heat her home in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

The ex-legal secretary said: “I’d like to make them come and live a year on our pension because they haven’t got a clue what it’s like.”

She added: “I’m lucky in one way because I’m fit enough to go out running but a lot of pensioners are stuck indoors. If this continues a lot of people are going to die over the next few months and I don’t think this government cares.”

Sheila has backed the Mirror and Age UK’S call to preserve the triple lock on state pensions.

She lost her husband to cancer 30 years ago and now lives alone with her dog, two cats and parrot.

Unable to afford basic items, she’s resorted to “war-time” techniques she learnt as a child such as making her own butter.

She said: “I’m very scared about winter.

“I’ve worked all my life, for 60 years, and all that time you pay into the system and now it comes to this and they make you feel like some incumbent.

“You feel like you’re begging, it’s horrible.”