AN elderly man was left housebound for nearly a week after a lift broke down in his flat complex.

Godfrey Simmons, aged 93, returned to his flat in Homesmith House, St Mary’s Road, Evesham, on April 26 from hospital to find the lift had been out of order since April 15. The lift was finally fixed on Wednesday.

The pensioner, who requires a walking frame to get out and about, called the situation an absolute disgrace.

“I am one of the people who cannot manage the stairs, so I was stuck,” said the former engineer who has lived on the first floor of the building for nine years. “The majority of the folk here are fairly elderly with the average age being over 80.”

Homesmith House, which has 75 flats on three levels, is managed by Peverel Retirement and all the tenants are over the age of 60.

Mr Simmons said: “The lift broke down about three weeks ago and there was a major problem in obtaining a particular spare part.

“That means anybody living in the first or second storeys was, theoretically, housebound if they are unable to manage the stairs.

“In my opinion it is an absolute disgrace that a company that leases this should not have proper service arrangements. A lift component critical to it working is really a safety item. What would happen if there was a need to vacate quickly?”

A spokesman for Peverel Retirement said a meeting had taken place to discuss the possible installation of a stairlift. “We apologise for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, a specialist piece of equipment is required to fix the lift, which needs to be manufactured specifically for Homesmith House.”