A divorced mum-of-two reveals the ‘dark times’ she suffered after falling into hygiene poverty that left her feeling ashamed and embarrassed. Caroline Gandy-Brown, 54, spiralled into debt after a divorce and found herself having to sacrifice her own hygiene for the sake of the children.

She laid bare the reality of hygiene poverty as new figures show single adults need an annual income of £31,536 to afford essentials – almost £2,000 more than the average £29,669 salary.

Caroline would clean…