A CHARITY toymaker left in pain by a piece of metal in his hand has been told by doctors he could wait up to 10 months for an operation.

Health bosses at the Royal United Hospital, Bath have refused to look at a slither of metal in Harry Cooper's left thumb for up to 25 weeks because it is not classified as urgent.

Doctors have told the pensioner he faces a further five months until an operation can take place which means the shrapnel could stay until September 2004.

Mr Cooper, 65, of Bratton, who made toys for children's hospitals across Europe from his workshop for over 12 years raising nearly £5m for charity, fears the metal has been in his hand for 15 years since a warehouse explosion at Celcon Blocks in Westbury.

There was an explosion when a fusebox released 40,000 volts.

He said: "It was a massive explosion and I suffered severe elbow damage. Even then I had to go all the way to Grimsby to get a quick appointment and the elbow was as good as new.

"The way things are going now I have to wait between 20-25 weeks just to be seen then wait the same amount of time to be operated on. It is very painful and swollen the doctor said the piece of metal could have been there for years but is only now causing trouble. It could be up to half an inch long."

Mr Cooper first went to see a

doctor in pain two weeks ago but an x-ray revealed no broken bones and he was recommended to roll a soft ball over the area to cure tendon problems.

He said: "If I had done that it would have been too painful. Now I even have trouble changing gear in my car. I don't know how long I can go on."

The piece of metal was noticed after doctors looked at the x-rays for a second time.

A spokesman for West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust said: "Patients who have very urgent or potentially life-threatening conditions are seen within a very short space of time.

"Those patients whose cases are not prioritised as urgent wait routinely for 21 weeks which is in line with national waiting time targets."

Mr Cooper spent 12 years making gifts for children around the world from his Bratton workshop but retired from the job in August after a farewell display at the West Wilts Show.

Some of the toys he made found their way to children's hospitals in Russia, Romania and Bosnia.