Primative life of 'eccentric' electrician

Richard Checksfield uses only fire for heat and light

A electrician from Yorkshire is living in a house without electricity because he does not want to pay the cost of installing a mains cable.

Richard Checksfield's home near York is also without gas or oil.

Although he has been an electrician for 55 years and could wire the house himself, he does not have a fridge, a television, an electric kettle, or a single light fitting.

Not only does he read by candlelight, he even washes in rain water.

The electrician relies on his water butt

Mr Checksfield said: "In 1975, it [mains installation] was just short of £600 and that was quite a fair bit of money.

"But the last time I had an estimate, it was just over £6,000 and that was about six years ago.

"Consequently I rearrange my survival differently to most people."

The house in Dunnington is not completely without the basics.

'Eccentric'

Since it does contain a battery-powered radio as well as an open fire, he does not live entirely like primitive man.

However, despite having a mains water supply connected, Mr Checksfield rarely uses the taps.

He said: "I catch the rain water in a large water butt.

"And I prefer that because it's softer and good for washing hair and clothes.

"So really I use very little from the mains."

The regular at the Greyhound and the Cross Keys pubs in the village has lived in homes without modern facilities, but does not miss them.

He said: "Everybody says I'm an eccentric... so I don't know... I don't mind... it's only a word."