'I've taken an extra job to pay for heating oil'

A woman from East Sussex says she is having to take on extra work to pay for the soaring cost of her heating oil.

Sheila Williams, from Golden Cross, has taken on a waitress job for the winter to help her pay her bills.

She said her oil bill had doubled since the start of 2026 and the extra job was needed to help pay for it.

A government spokesperson said: "We have pledged £53m in support for vulnerable households on heating oil and removed the 4% tariff on home heating oil."

Williams, who has lived alone in a park home for seven years, said: "Words cannot express how upset I am about this."

Thousands of homes across Sussex are not connected to the gas mains and rely on oil.

A household wanting to fill a 1,000-litre tank could be facing a bill of more than £970.

Nigel Wanstall, from Sheffield Park, said: "We've no heating at all because I can't afford to fill my oil tank.

"The price of it is so expensive.

"We use an open fire in the lounge and an electric blanket in bed."