THE experience of two frightened pensioners trapped in a lift while they were put through to a call centre in Lancashire has sparked anger from readers.

We reported how Patricia and William Farquharson were trapped in a lift in St Martin’s Gate Car Park in Worcester for 20 minutes after they pressed the emergency button.

When they pressed it they were put through to a call centre in Lancashire. It was 20 minutes before they were released. The lift doors were prised open with crow bars to end their ordeal.

Mrs Farquharson, aged 66, of Tolladine Road, Worcester, was so upset she had to be rushed by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with a suspected heart attack during the ordeal on Friday, November 8.

CommonSense of Pershore wrote on our website worcesternews.co.uk: “At least the emergency button worked but this is appalling in the 21st century, especially for older people. Being trapped in a lift is everybody’s living nightmare and my heart goes out to this couple.”

Brooksider of Worcester posted: “How about the council considers the distress caused by their actions as in this case and get staff to put the public – their employers – first.”

Jb, of Worcester, said: “I hope this doesn’t happen again but I would hope that if this system is kept then the next call after pressing the emergency button would be the fire brigade and then they can bill the council afterwards. I hope this couple have recovered from this awful ordeal.”

Cromwell, of Worcester, wrote: “I am not trying to be in any way flippant here but I’m just wondering if a mobile phone may have been more help than the brain dead dim-wits at the end of the button.”

Worcester City Council, which manages the lifts, is still investigating an official complaint.

Richard Ansell, the council’s maintenance manager, has already apologised to the couple.