A PENSIONER told to wait five months for a hearing aid is driving neighbours mad because he has to turn his TV right up to hear it.

Ian Lalor-Smith is almost deaf in his right ear, yet the audiology department at Princess Margaret Hospital say they cannot measure him up for an aid until March 2001.

Until then the 68-year-old will have to make do blasting out his radio and television at top volume.

But he fears the situation will cause friction with his neighbours who have already tolerated noise echoing from his ground floor flat in Maidens Close since he fell deaf in May.

"In fact it was my neighbours who suggested I get a hearing aid," explained Mr Lalor-Smith.

"But I don't know if they will put up with me for another five months," he said.

Retired Mr Lalor-Smith has relied on his television and radio for company since his wife died 18 years ago.

He says that although he has plenty of friends in the Watch-field area, he would miss television if he were forced to stop watching altogether.

He would especially miss his favourite nature and wildlife documentaries and Songs of Praise.

The father of two grown-up sons said: "I think it is utterly disgraceful that I have to wait so long for a hearing aid.

"I have paid taxes all my life, so even though it is urgent I refuse to go private for something which I am entitled to receive free of charge."

And he is not looking forward to the coming months.

He has already had to re-arrange his furniture, turning audio equipment to face his right ear, in a bid to ease the problem.

"At the end of the day it is just incredibly embarrassing for me," he said.

"The neighbours are being very understanding but I appreciate the noise must disturb them."

Hospital spokesman Chris Birdsall said he was unable to comment on specific cases but said that a waiting period of 20 weeks was not uncommon for a hearing device fitting.

He added it was a stark improvement on last year's waiting time of between 40-50 weeks.

He said: " We have drastically improved waiting time for hearing aids."

Mr Birdsall explained it would take another to month to have the aid made to measure.