A housing association has told the Harrow Times there is nothing it can do to install a new lift for elderly residents more quickly.

Sanctuary Housing Group has come under fire after it told the residents of a South Harrow sheltered living block that it could not replace their broken lift until May.

The Times reported last week on the plight of 89-year-old Vidyaben Patel and her neighbours.

Mrs Patel is living as a prisoner in her own home because the housing association has failed to repair the lift which broke in October.

She is unable to leave her flat as she would have to walk down 50 stairs to reach the ground floor.

The housing association said the lifts at Duncan House in Northolt Road are broken beyond reasonable repair and such major work can be expected to take about four months.

A statement added: “To minimise disruption stair lifts have already been installed, and staff are on hand to provide extra support, such as getting in and out of the building, or carrying shopping and laundry.”

In an attempt to alleviate the problem Sanctuary Housing Group has installed stairlifts in the building.

But to get to the third floor, the residents have to use ten different lifts - and simply getting upstairs took Mrs Patel an hour.