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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Nathan Bevan & Lucy Skoulding

Mum says power supply at home 'so dangerous' she 'wears rubber gloves to shower'

A mum has claimed the electrcity supply at the caravan park where she works is so dangers she was to wear plastic shoes and rubber gloves when she showers so she doesn't get electrocuted.

Maria Edwards said her family has lived at Happy Valley caravan park in Porthcawl, Wales for decades.

But since May she's been getting painful shocks from almost everything she touches on a regular basis, reports Wales Online.

The 43-year-old said she first got a bad jolt by turning on her static home's outside tap, which led to the discovery her power supply wasn't earthed properly.

Since then she's been unable to do even simple household chores such as hoovering without being affected.

The 43-year-old said she first got a bad jolt by turning on her static home's outside tap (Maria Edwards)

Maria added she also ends up giving electric shocks to anyone who comes to visit her at the caravan, while her recent electricity bill has skyrocketed - almost doubling that of her immediate neighbours.

And now she's calling on the park's owners, Royale Life - who boast of providing 'exclusive bungalow living' - to do something about the problem before she or her teenage son are seriously hurt.

"It started when I tried to wash the caravan earlier this year, after which I also got a really bad shock whilst turning on the shower - honestly, it left me trembling," said the mobile caterer.

"So now I don't go in the bathroom without plastic sliders on my feet and rubber gloves on my hands.

"I can't even hoover barehanded and if I sit down on my garden furniture I also get a shock. And, when I pass my sister a cigarette or something, she'll get a shock from me."

Maria added she also ends up giving electric shocks to anyone who comes to visit her at the caravan (Maria Edwards)

Maria claimed that when one of the on-site electricians looked at the problem he told her 'the electrics are old, it isn't earthed properly and the whole lot needs rewiring'.

But since then she said she's heard nothing.

She added that she now sleeps with a fire extinguisher next to her pillow in case her home catches fire during the night - something that almost did happen to a nearby caravan just recently.

"It was a Sunday night, the power went off and all of a sudden we could hear a sizzling noise and smell burning.

"We rushed out a saw the place a few doors down was smouldering at its mains connection, but luckily we got there in time to put it out.

"Yet all I get from Royale Life is emailed replies saying 'we understand your concerns' and that their 'health and safety department is dealing with it'. But that's not good enough," said Maria.

"In the meantime I'm living on my nerves and hardly sleeping. Plus my electric bill is almost twice what next door are paying - nearly £380 - so I've been withholding my rent until things are sorted."

A spokesperson for Royale Life said: "We would like to reassure you that we are taking this seriously.

"We are doing everything we can to resolve this as soon as possible."

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