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Every night, John Foster leaves his will on the living room sofa.

The retired shipyard worker, who has no family, has spoken candidly about his battle with loneliness.

It’s an epidemic sweeping the nation, particularly since the Covid pandemic and amid the cost-of-living crisis.

‘I’m completely on my own,’ said John, who lives in Sunderland.

He added: ‘I haven’t even got any relations anywhere, I’m just here, that’s it. Existing.

‘I started doing this [leaving my will out] when my sister died. I’ve got no family – they’ve all gone – so there’s nobody to do things like this.’

John, 76, has spoken of his isolation and the impact the cost-of-living crisis has had on it.

He has got used to sitting in the dark at night to save electricity, and leaves a carton of milk by the front door.

He’s shared his story with Channel 4 Dispatches Britain’s Forgotten Pensioners, with hearbreaking footage detailing his process of leaving his will on dispay.

He tells the programme: ‘If anyone comes into the house this [the will] is the first thing they’re going to see. They will phone the funeral directors, they’ll come out and everything will be done.’

Asked if he ever feels sad, John pauses and responds: ‘You should say “do you ever feel happy?” Because I’m sad all the time.’

His brother, who worked as a miner, died just four days before his 41st birthday, and his sister died five years ago.

John continued: ‘I’ve got no family, never been married, no kids. Family, if you lose one or two it’s bad enough, but if you lose all of them you’re completely on your own and it’s just a nightmare.

‘I can’t believe I’m the last one here. It takes getting your head around it, you just can’t work it out.’

The documentary highlights the work of Karen Noble, from local charity Pallion Action Group, who helps John sign up for benefits and afford proper meals.

For ten years – he didn’t realise the extra cash he was entitled to.

Ms Noble told the programme: ‘I know that there’s lots of information online, but we all know older people who don’t go online. 

‘I think it’s shocking that we’ve got a 76-year-old man who could have been getting an additional benefit for 10 years and nobody picked it up.’

You can watch Britain’s Forgotten Pensioners: Dispatches now on 4oD.

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