A FOREST of Dean resident has revealed he has enough food stored to survive for a year as the Government encourages households to prepare for emergencies.

The man, known only as Shane, has spent more than two decades building up supplies at his terraced home, where jars, bottles and packets are tucked into cupboards, drawers and other available spaces.

Speaking to the BBC, the gardener and forager said his preparations began as a practical response to power cuts and blocked roads during severe weather in rural parts of the Forest.

More recently, concerns about cyberattacks, disrupted food supplies and international tensions have reinforced his determination to remain self-sufficient.

Shane, who declined to give his surname, estimates his supplies would last at least 12 months when combined with produce from his garden and access to alternative power and water sources.

His unusual collection goes far beyond the tins of beans and bottled water commonly associated with emergency supplies.

A metal chest in his living room holds shop-bought food, while filing cabinets are packed with homemade preserves and dehydrated ingredients.

Among the meals he has prepared for storage are leek and potato soup and chicken rogan josh, reflecting his belief that emergency food should still be enjoyable.

The house also contains camping stoves, batteries, solar-powered lights and equipment designed to provide basic washing facilities if the mains water supply is interrupted.

A wood-burning stove offers another way of heating water when electricity is unavailable.

Shane told the BBC he regularly checks dates and rotates his stock, replacing items as they are used so the amount stored remains broadly consistent.

Having maintained the routine for years, he now regards it as an ordinary part of daily life rather than an exceptional precaution.

He also believes growing concern about extreme weather and potential disruption to essential services has encouraged more people to ask him for advice.

His preparations come as the Government launches a national conversation about resilience and urges households to consider how they would manage during an emergency.

Its Be Ready guidance recommends keeping sufficient food, water and medication for at least three days, together with useful items such as a torch, battery-powered or wind-up radio and some cash.

The guidance is intended to help households cope with disruption, rather than suggesting a national emergency is imminent.

Gloucestershire councillor Chloe Turner has also called for more consideration of how food and energy could be supplied and distributed locally during a crisis.

He has written books about fruit and vegetables, knowledge that helps him preserve ingredients. His approach combines production with supermarket purchases rather than relying on one type of supply.

For Shane, however, preparing for problems is already firmly established in his routine.

He told the BBC that friends sometimes joke about moving into his house if a major emergency strikes, although he has made clear that space is limited.

His experience shows how far some residents are willing to go beyond the Government's three-day recommendations to prepare for an uncertain future.