A group of retired residents are fed up with having to climb two flights of stairs to their flats because a lift has not been repaired since it flooded on Christmas Eve.

The lift serves four second-floor apartments in Kingston Mills, Bradford on Avon, and the residents, all aged over 70, have been back and forth with developer Linden Homes and residential management company Pentland Estate Management trying to get it sorted out to no avail.

Vivien Norfolk, who lives with partner Gill Winfield, said: “We are stuck between one and the other. No-one is taking responsibility.

“It is now eleven weeks. Most of the other places are getting back on their feet while we are still waiting. You go through a range of emotions – angry, upset, and frustrated.”

Ms Winfield said: “Pentland Estate Management has promised it is imminent, but nothing has happened.

"They said it is insurance and that it was going to cost £26,000 to repair the lift. They said it is all approved, so why aren’t they mending it?”

Resident Joyce Shaw moved from Kent to Kingston Mills two years ago to be nearer her family.

She said: “This has taken away our independence and needs to be resolved.

“It is difficult if you have visitors. In January my son stayed for one month and had to lug four suitcases up the stairs.”

Linden Homes Western said: “An insurance claim has been made to cover the cost of the repairs. We are aware that this has created a delay... Linden Homes has been providing support to residents by acting as an intermediary between them and Pentland Estate Management.”

The firm said it took the situation seriously and had prioritised the repair work.