Elderly residents are being stranded in their six-storey building as council maintenance contractors Serco fail to do repair work to the vital lift.

The most recent breakdown at Cumberland House in Kingston Hill was last Friday, but just hours after the Comet began making inquiries a letter came through residents doors promising that repair work would be done today (Friday).

Resident Mary Hughes, 65, has lived at the flats for 36 years. She said: The Surrey Comet must have done something because I had the letter through my door hours after speaking to you.

Mrs Hughes is infuriated by the repeated breakdowns.

Many residents are elderly with mobility problems and find it hard to leave their homes when the lift is broken. According to Mrs Hughes, one resident has just had a heart bypass and has been forced to stay inside.

She said: There is a complete lack of lift maintenance in these blocks. And even when people do come they just manage to get it restarted and dont really fix it so it is not long before it breaks down yet again.

A council spokesman said: The council is responding as quickly as its contractors can get there and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents.