Mum hit by soaring bills 'on verge of skip diving and using air rifle to get food' for her kids

A mum-of-two has said her family’s energy bills have risen so much that she contemplating raiding bins outside supermarkets to feed her children.

Lauran Warren says despite living frugally, she and her husband Martyn are struggling to make ends meet. Their gas and electricity bill has doubled this month after the energy price cap was lifted by the government.

It means the family of four now spend £411 a month on their gas and electricity bill. They previously paid around £220 a month.

“We were in credit a month ago but it’s just jumped up. It has pretty much doubled,” the mum, who lives in Holbeck, told LeedsLive .

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The family were already struggling to get by in the early months of this year, but they thought their financial concerns would ease a little after Lauran landed a job as a trainee chef last month. However, most of her money will now be spent on covering the rise in energy bills.

“It’s a double blow for me because I have just got a new job for the first time in eight years,” said Lauran. “I have only been there for three weeks and I haven’t even my first paycheque yet. Now basically all my money is going on my bills.”

Despite dad Martyn’s salary from his job as a reptile specialist, it has left the family struggling to put food on the table for their two daughters, aged eight and 10.

Lauran said: "We have always lived frugally and worn slippers and jumpers in the house. The heating is on a thermostat anyway and it only comes on for about four or five hours a day.

“I’ve started thinking about skip-diving when the shops close. I’ve never considered doing it myself and I had never even thought about doing this a year