PENSIONERS say they have been trapped in their own homes for more than six weeks because of a broken lift.

New Beveridge House, in Wood Farm Road, Wood Farm, Oxford, has 27 sheltered flats for elderly people over three floors, and many residents are ill and infirm.

Last night, they said the only lift broke in the last week of May and was left for five weeks before being repaired in the first week of July.

But it broke again a couple of days later.

The lift has now been broken for another eight days and is expected to be out of order for two weeks.

Great-grandmother Rona Smith, 77, said she had not been out in 10 days.

She said: “I hurt my leg in a car accident and it is painful now, so I cannot walk up stairs.

“I walked up the four flights of stairs the last time the lift was broke and made my leg much worse, so I cannot go out now. It is awful.”

Mrs Smith has been helped by family and friends, who have all visited and brought shopping for her.

She said: “They have offered me a small room instead, but it is miles away. I would have to take half my home, so I have said I am staying.”

The three-storey building is owned by Oxford Citizens Housing Association (OCHA) based in Cowley.

Another resident in his 70s said: “After the lift was stopped for five weeks, it came back on, then after a few days of it working again, it stopped.

“All we know about it is that there is a sign on the doors saying ‘Oxford Citizen Housing is aware the lift is out of order’ and that is it.

“I have just come through prostate cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and I am absolutely whacked by the time I have climbed the stairs.

“We should not have to do that.”

Becky Willis, OCHA’s 55 Plus housing team leader, said the initial problem had been fixed, but a safety test uncovered an unrelated issue.

She said: “Our housing support worker has visited vulnerable residents to check on their welfare and needs.

“Now that we have learned it may take up to two weeks to get the lift up and running, we have written to all residents to offer help if we can.”

“We appreciate that this is a very frustrating situation for residents, but we cannot allow the lift to be in service unless we know it is completely safe.

“The contractors are aware of the urgency of getting the lift working again quickly.”