CENTRAL heating is all very well. But when the temperatures suddenly dip below freezing - as they did for a couple of icy days last week - there's little to beat the good old-fashioned hot water bottle for sheer comfort and warmth.

It was a bit warmer this week - but it always pays to plan ahead, as Evening Press business editor Ron Godfrey found out when his central heating packed in at the height of the cold snap last week.

Ron went in search of a few plain rubber hot water bottles while on a flying trip to Monks Cross, to keep his family warm - but found it more difficult than he had expected.

While he was able to find plenty of the fluffy, furry kids' varieties, there seemed to have been a bit of a run on the ordinary rubber bottles.

Woolies and Boots both had the fluffy versions left, but had sold out of the plain ones. Asda, too, looked like being a disappointment - until a helpful store assistant managed to pluck the last two from stores. By earlier this week, however, even Asda had sold out - though a delivery was expected last night.

Fortunately, if you do want to prepare for the winter while stocks last, the Evening Press has found a number of stores in the city centre that, at the time of writing, still had plain hot water bottles left - as well as several stocking the fluffy variety for kids. Here is our essential guide to hot water bottles, and where to find them. All stores mentioned still had stocks at the time of checking, but to avoid disappointment, it may be worth ringing first.

Boots, Coney Street: Plain rubber hot water bottles, available with handles (£5.70) or without (£5.95). Limited stocks only available. Call 01904 653657.

Woolworths, Coney Street: Plain rubber hot water bottles still in stock, price £2.99. 01904 623601.

Superdrug, Market Street: Plain rubber hot water bottles still available, price £2.99. 01904 647397.

Fenwicks, Coppergate Centre: 'Santa' hot water bottles with covers, £6.99; assorted Vagabond hot water bottles (teddy bears, cars or tartan-covered), £8.95; small rubber hot water bottles shaped like stars, fish or bears, £2.99; plus an assortment of novelty hot water bottle covers (not including the bottles themselves) in the shape of ducks, pigs, frogs and bears, £8.95.

M&S, Pavement: fluffy covered Winnie-the-Pooh, polar bear and shaggy dog hot water bottles. Price £12 to £15. 01904 643377.