An elderly woman who had been given a microwaveable heat pack as a safer alternative to a hot-water bottle died after it caught fire in her bed.

Relatives of Doreen Ghiloni, 82, from Leeds, thought that the £14.95 Hottie would spare her the danger of scalding while filling a traditional bottle with hot water. She is understood to have been overcome by fumes from the smouldering wheat-filled pack and she died the next day.

Fire investigators in West Yorshire say that they have dealt with another six incidents involving the heat packs in the past year.

Mrs Ghiloni’s family is campaigning for manufacturers to change the safety instructions on the packs to prevent any other loss of life or injury, and to advise against their use in bed.

The instructions on the packaging are to place a cup of water with the pack in the microwave. The water prevents it from drying out and smouldering. Mrs Ghiloni’s son, Ian, 51, believes that the instructions should be on the product. He said: “I don’t think people should be taking these things to bed. I think that needs to be clear. I don’t want anyone else to come to harm.”

Aroma Home, the manufacturer, which is based in Swindon, declined to comment yesterday. Trading standards officers in the town said that they would investigate.

Wheat bags have been used for many years as a supplemental therapy, in particular by older people with arthritis. The structure of the wheat grain allows it to warm up quickly and then slowly release its heat. But as the bag ages the chemicals in the wheat break down, making it prone to overheating.

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