February 5, 2001 15:07: SHIVERING pensioner Roy Baxter had to fill up dozens of hot water bottles to keep warm after his heating packed up for a week.

The disabled 65-year-old was preparing to go into hospital for a knee operation when the central heating in his council flat broke down.

He said: "It's terrible, I have been trying to run around to fill hot water bottles up for heat and top them up every half hour."

Mr Baxter, of Chartridge House, in Windrush Drive, High Wycombe, said he noticed the problem two weeks ago on January 21, and called Wycombe District Council the following day.

He said: "Someone came out and said 'yes there's a problem with something sticking' and then went out again.

"I was freezing. I am disabled and have trouble getting round but it was warmer moving into the corridor than in my flat."

He said another workman came back and told him the fan was not working on the heating but would have to order the part to fix it.

Mike Bomford, spokesman for Wycombe District Council, said: "Visits had been made to the property to assess the extent of the fault and a new piece of equipment has been ordered."

The heating has now been fixed.