Energy bills: struggling families forced to ‘seek refuge in McDonald’s’

Desperate parents are using fast food outlets as an emergency kitchen, bathroom and living room

Families struggling to cope with energy bills are seeking shelter in McDonald's, with one charity saying hard-pressed parents and children are spending their evenings in the fast food restaurants, relying on the facilities as an emergency kitchen, bathroom and living room.

People are buying their kids a Happy Meal for a few quid and keeping them warm inside. Then they wash and brush their teeth in the sinks and watch television for hours on the free wifi," says Matthew Cole.