Cumbria 'rosy cheeked' and 'hardened' (BBC)

“Cumbria 'rosy cheeked' and 'hardened'

Barrow-in-Furness is beaten only by the Isles of Scilly when it comes to the number of households without central heating.

At nearly 8% it is almost three times the national average.

In Cumbria as a whole nearly 9,000 households keep themselves warm - or not - without the aid of radiators and a boiler.

Cycle shop owner Mr Hughes relies on electric fires and said many also used wood burning stoves because they "can't afford the gas bills".

But it has its advantages, he thinks, because central heating "dries your skin out".

"You don't have nice rosy cheeks like all us hardened lads up here do."