NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

A Speedo-clad dad tackled the cost-of-living crisis by taking a free shower during torrential rain outside a supermarket.

Viewers of a video of Chris Boyd taking the early morning dousing have compared it to the rain-soaked liberation scene from The Shawshank Redemption, in which Tim Robbins’ character Andy Dufresne washes away the filth of sewage tunnels he had to crawl through to escape prison.

Chris Boyd was sitting in his flat at midnight on August 17 as the heavens opened and a huge downpour flooded the street. With heavy rain showing no signs of let-up, the 60-year-old decided to make use of the money-saving potential of the weather by sticking on skimpy swimwear and grabbing a flannel for a street shower. Footage captured by Spalding Market shows Chris, who is currently unemployed, scrubbing under his armpits in ankle-deep water as a bemused driver crawls past. The dad-of-one said the opportunity indulge in a free shower was ‘something he had to do’, admitting the soak was ‘very pleasant’ – aside from ‘the odd floating fag butt’. Chris, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, said: ‘With the cost of living nowadays, and people not wanting to turn on their water, I thought, “Why not have a free shower?” ‘I live across the road from the market, and I was sitting in the flat looking out the window at the rain. ‘It was coming down like cups, I’d never seen rain like it, and I had to do something.

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‘So I thought, “Why not pop my speedos on and take the opportunity?” The only problem is I didn’t take my shower gel, but at least I took the flannel. ‘It was nice and warm – kind of like a heated pool – so it was quite pleasant. ‘If there wasn’t the odd fag butt floating around I’d have had a swim.’

Former forklift driver Chris added the downpour was also the perfect opportunity to enjoy a refreshing dip after the hot weather that swept the country. Chris said: ‘It was a lovely relief from the hot weather we’d had, so after the heatwave I thought, “I’m having some of that”.

‘The guys from the market were laughing – they love me over there. People might think I’m a bit mad but it’s a free shower. What’s wrong with that?

‘I felt like a free spirit. It was refreshing and it didn’t cost me anything. It was an experience, but I wouldn’t want to do it in a lightning storm.’

Chris is planning to do the same again during heavy rain, as householders face huge energy bills this winter.

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He added: ‘I’ll take advantage of the next downpour and grab a shower. Even if it’s colder by that point it won’t put me off – cold showers are good for the health. ‘If it happens again I’ll be out there – I’ll just remember my shower gel.’

Experts have said households being battered by the cost-of-living crunch can save money by slashing their shower time to the length of a pop song.

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