A mum unable to cook after being left without heating or hot water says she was told by her energy supplier to order a takeaway.

Tammy Johnson, from Faversham, was unable to top up her pay-as-you-go meter after struggling to cover the cost of her bills.

The 56-year-old - who is recovering from lung cancer - was offered emergency credit by supplier E.ON to help her through to the new year.

But the firm could not reinstate her gas for a week, as the temperature inside her home dipped to just 6.5C and she was left without a functioning oven.

"They suggested I buy takeaways," Ms Johnson recalled.

"Well, if I could afford takeaways I could have afforded to top up my gas - I’ve got no money.

“A neighbour lent me a little fan heater which was the only thing we had for heat - me and my son basically curled up around it.

“As for food, we had sandwiches and the odd microwave meal, but I can’t afford to go out and purchase all microwave meals. It was absolutely horrendous.”

The delay, which forced Ms Johnson and her 21-year-old son, Patrick, to eat cold food and boil water for baths, was caused by a glitch in E.ON’s computer system.

From December 7 until the following Wednesday, she was sent codes which were supposed to allow her to top up her meter.

But they failed every time she went to a local convenience store to load them.

Ms Johnson visited one shop so many times that staff asked her not to come back.

“It was absolutely awful," she added.

"I’ve got pneumonia, so I’m not in very good health as it is and I am supposed to be on their vulnerability list.

“With my health issues, it didn't do me an awful lot of good.

"Doctors want me in a warm place, but I didn't have one.”

Ms Johnson was told she is in remission just four months ago.

"It’s the cost-of-living crisis - gas and electric have absolutely zoomed up..."

The Met Office recommends homes should be heated to at least 18C and stresses this is particularly important for anyone with a health condition.

Ms Johnson's gas was restored on Wednesday, but she says the experience has left her "very angry".

“I’ve been very tearful - I’ve not been in a very good way," she continued.

“It’s the cost-of-living crisis - gas and electric have absolutely zoomed up.

"I used to pay £30 a fortnight for my electricity, and now I’m paying three times that.”

With Christmas coming, Ms Johnson is worried about being able to afford presents for her grandchildren while meeting the cost of her rising bills.

An E.ON spokesman has apologised to her for the problems caused.

“Ms Johnson called us in difficulty and we tried numerous ways to provide help, including emergency top-up codes for her meter and a new credit voucher delivered via courier," he said.

“We’re sorry she had difficulties in accessing the emergency credit but we’ve since been able to speak to her and we can confirm her issue has been resolved.

“We know these are incredibly difficult times and we continue to urge any customer who might be struggling to get in touch as there are ways we can help."