A WORCESTER man who was told he would have to pay £10,000 for surgery to correct his serious heart problem is celebrating after health officials have agreed it can be paid for on the NHS.

Tony Cox who suffers from cardiomyopathy - a serious disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn't work as well as it should - will have an operation to fit a biventricular pacemaker on Monday.

The 58-year-old, of Randwick Close, Warndon, was originally told South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust had no obligation to pay for the procedure.

But after reviewing his case, they told him yesterday that he can have it done.

"I'm over the moon," he told the Evening News.

"Like with any operation, there is not 100 per cent chance of success. But hopefully, it will give me a new lease of life."