Virtually extinct - the pearl light bulb banned by Europe... and the price of its replacement soars by up to 174 per cent in a year

Anyone who has tried to track down a replacement for a traditional light bulb recently will know how frustrating a task it has become.

Since the introduction of EU rules to curb their use and encourage much-criticised ‘energy-saving’ alternatives, the popular pearl bulb, known for its soft sheen and mellow glow, has become the scarcest of all.

One woman was so desperate to find the old-style bulbs that she is said to have spent £7,000 on them in a single shopping trip.     Read More