KIDDERMINSTER firefighters have criticised "irresponsible idiots" who left open lift shaft doors in a town tower block.

They said anyone falling into the lift shaft at Derwent House, where a party was taking place, would have been killed.

The crew was called to the Hurcott Road flats, which have become a regular trouble spot, at 2.30am last Wednesday to rescue a group of teenage girls stuck in a lift just above the ground floor.

Sub-officer Mick Rowlands said someone had managed to open the doors on the sixth floor and had urinated on to the lift and thrown bottles of beer down the shaft.

Mr Rowlands added: "These incidents are becoming a major worry. Some idiot has either got hold of a special key or has found some other way of opening the lift doors.

"When we got there we were greeted by jeers and verbal abuse as well."

There were further problems for firefighters on Sunday when coins were thrown at them when they carried out another lift rescue at the flats at 6.40pm.