A bit OT - battery charging advice please

[Penners]

Well, as a final report, I have now recharged both old batteries successfully. The charger's red charging light still steadfastly refuses to come on, but this doesn't seem to make any difference to the recharging of the batteries. Both of them now seem to be perfectly useable, and give a decent amount of good work before running down.

So many thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and ideas.