Woman stockpiles 1,000 banned lightbulbs so she can read for rest of her life

A pensioner has defied an EU ban by hoarding more than 1,000 traditional light bulbs - enough to see her 'into the grave'.

Valerie Hemsley-Flint, 62, has spent more than £500 of her pension money stockpiling the old-style 100-watt bulbs. From September 1, EU countries were banned from producing or importing incandescent bulbs and shops can sell only energy-efficient ones.

But Miss Hemsley-Flint said the light from them is not good enough for her to read by and the flickering sets off her epilepsy. So she has bought 1,100 old-style bulbs and is calling on the Government to scrap the ban.



From her home in Sittingbourne, Kent, Miss Hemsley-Flint said: 'I suffer from photosensitive epilepsy, which means I can't get near any screen or anything that flickers.

'I worked out that if I live as long as my aunts did - into their 90s - I would need about 30 years' worth of the old-style bulbs for each room.

'I have more than 1,000 now - in fact 1,100. It has cost me a small fortune but for me it's worth it and will see me through to the grave.'