Living in Hale Barns and struggling to survive - the families on the breadline in one Greater Manchester's richest places

Wrapped in a dressing gown, Kylie Jepson stares out the window of her Hale Barns council house.

Her life feels worlds away from those living in the gated mansions around her.

Visibly exhausted, she points to a thermostat in the corner of the room.

“I’m putting £20 on gas and electric daily,” she says.

“I’m scared. I don’t want to go out.

"How do I survive? How do I keep my family going?”

Like thousands of low-income families across the region, Kylie is fighting to keep her head above water.

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A single mum of four, she’s struggled to support her children following the death of her partner.

But her worries are set to intensify when household bills skyrocket on April 1.

While most people in Greater Manchester will feel the pinch, those in the Trafford village are expected to face bigger bills compared to other parts of the region.

Residents will see a larger increase if they pay by prepayment meter, cash, cheque, or quarterly direct debit, rather than monthly direct debits.

This is due to the costs of those payment types to the energy companies.

And because energy use varies across the UK, if someone’s consumption is similar to the local average, they could end up paying more.

In Hale Barns, households can expect to pay £1,981 more for their gas and electricity this summer compared to last summer – the highest increase in Greater Manchester.

Kylie doesn't know how she’s going to survive.

“I feel completely anxious,” the 49-year-old, who has Crohn's and a bone disease, continued.

“It’s absolutely horrendous.

“At the end of the month I have to borrow off my mum.

“I’ve had to cut back on food. I’m not working because I have a