Lin Lawler, who lives in Bergh Apton and owns Grange Farmhouse in Hainford, uses the five-bedroom house and adjoining annex as a holiday rental for just over 100 days a year.

But despite the limited use, energy supplier SmartestEnergy has issued a bill of £24,010 for the year and will cut off her power unless she agrees to pay it back at £2,022 per week.

Miss Lawler says when the holiday rental unoccupied, the main energy usage is a bit of ironing work (Image: Amy Mackrill) Ms Lawler said: “I just can’t afford it.

“They’ve got their hands around my throat and their hands in my pocket.”

Ms Lawler was stunned when she started receiving monthly bills totalling thousands of pounds and complained numerous times to the company's customer service team.

In February of this year, the........

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