ELDERLY people in Notts are resorting to spending hours in shopping centres because they can't afford to heat their own homes in winter.
Some cash-strapped pensioners even take sandwiches and a Thermos flask with them so they can spend more time there.
Campaign groups have expressed concern about the findings, which emerged as part of a survey by the Post and the Nottingham Pensioners' Action Group.
The survey revealed 50 per cent of elderly people in the area could not afford to keep warm at home – with some going to places such as shopping centres to keep warm. Pensioner Desmond Hudson, 82, of Radford, goes into the Victoria Shopping Centre for a few hours a week. He said: "I've worked like hell all my life and I'm still really struggling to pay the bills.
"Many people are in the same situation. This is really bad.
"I top up £15 to £20 for my heating each week, so coming in here will at least save a little bit of money."
The results are backed up by a separate survey by Nottingham Elders' Forum, in which 37 per cent said they couldn't keep warm on their pension.
