Two frightened pensioners trapped in a lift in Worcester pressed the emergency button for help – only to be find themselves talking to a call centre in Lancashire.

They were then dismayed to hear staff at the end of the line laughing.

William and Patricia Farquharson had to wait 20 minutes to be freed and during their ordeal Mrs Farquharson became so distressed doctors feared she had suffered a heart attack The couple were eventually rescued by men working near the lift in the city’s St Martin’s Gate car park who used crowbars to prise open the doors.

Mrs Farquharson, aged 66, of Tolladine Road, Worcester, who has rheumatoid arthritis and a serious heart condition, said she was so ill after her ordeal that doctors at Worcestershire Royal Hospital thought she might be on the verge of cardiac arrest.

Tests later revealed that she had not suffered a heart attack but she said: “I wouldn’t wish it anyone. Afterwards I felt dreadful. I felt like I was going to explode. I also started having chest pains. I’m very angry and upset. I ended up in hospital because of this.”

She and her husband, 75, who suffers from high blood pressure, became trapped at 10.50am on Friday.

When the couple called for help using the lift alarm button they expected to be connected to an attendant at the car park, not a call centre in Lancashire.

Mrs Farquharson said: “My husband heard girls laughing and giggling but not very clearly as he’s hard of hearing. My husband said he was desperate for the toilet and they just burst out laughing.”

The call was eventually answered by a member of staff in Lancashire who said they would send out an engineer from “within the West Midlands”.

But meanwhile workmen nearby heard them and used crowbars to prize open the lift doors and let them out before the engineer arrived.

Mrs Farquharson has registered a complaint with Worcester City Council which is responsible for maintaining the lifts.

Richard Ansell, maintenance manager at Worcester City Council, said: “I’d like to offer a sincere apology to Mr and Mrs Farquharson with regard to this incident.”