A MUM-of-three has set up a new Facebook group to help and support people struggling with the increasing energy prices.

Maxine Watts, 40, is a full-time mum to Grace (3), Arabella (2) and Joshua (1).

Originally from Manchester but now living in Ellesmere Port, Maxine is feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and the increasing energy prices.

Speaking to the Globe, she said: "Gas and electricity prices are soon to significantly increase. I think everyone, including myself, is concerned aboutt how this is going to affect us on a day-to-day basis.

“For me personally, ahead of the rise in October, I’ve been really looking at how I can reduce my consumption of energy."

Last week, Maxine posted on a local community group on Facebook, listing things she has been doing around the house to cut down her gas and electricity.

Tips included turning off your hot water pre-heat function if you have it, turning down your thermostat by a couple of degrees, boiling your kettle once in the morning for hot drinks and putting the hot water in a flask, using low temperature and short cycle washes, and moving your furniture six inches away from radiators.

The post received a lot of attention from Ellesmere Port locals, which inspired Maxine to set up her own Facebook group, ‘Light and Warmth in the Port’.

She said: “The only way we can save money now is by reducing our energy consumption.

“There’s a lot of people who need help, so making the group is an accessible way to help everyone."

As well as providing a range of energy-saving tips, Maxine also wants to organise a donate and deliver system for residents in the community.

She added: “What I’d love to see happen is the people who can provide support to people who are most in need in the community to provide things such as thermal blankets and solar lights.

“What I’m aiming to do once this group is really up and running is collect donations and then once a month have a ‘delivery day’ where I go out to the people who have requested support and deliver the items they need.

“Having three children means I know that mum’s and other families will struggle. It is difficult raising a young family with the cost-of-living going up so I’m totally empathic to how difficult it’s going to be for some people."

As her Facebook page is for residents in the Ellesmere Port community, Maxine explained that she wants other communities to do the same. 

She said: “If there are people who want to set up a similar page in their community, I’d be happy to help support them to do the same."

To join Maxine's group, click here.