A FATHER with a heart condition has been forced to walk up and down three flights of steps because the door entry system to his sheltered housing block is broken.

Keith Grayson is one of several residents in the Brighton complex to have been waiting seven months for workers to fix the faulty intercom.

The 71-year-old, of Clare Walk in Slinfold Close, near the Royal Sussex County Hospital, claims he has repeatedly asked for it to be fixed.

He said: “The problems first started in April last year and shortly after they got worse.

“We can’t hear people at all now. Nothing’s working.”

After a few failed attempts to fix the entry system, the wall panels were replaced with new units which worked briefly but failed again.

Mr Grayson’s latest complaint is that the panel fascias do not fit properly, leaving gaps for water to get in.

With seven other flats in his block, he said: “My flat is not the only one affected by this problem and others have greater difficulty getting around.”

He added that another three smaller blocks in the complex had the same problem.

Mr Grayson is originally from Manchester but married a Brighton woman in 1964. He now lives on his own.

His rent and service charges are covered by Brighton and Hove City Council and he pays his bills out of his pension.

He said: “I’m told something is happening soon but how long is soon? It was classed as an emergency – but seven months for an emergency job?”

Shaun Car, assets director for Sanctuary Housing, said: “There have been ongoing issues with the remote door entry system at the scheme and contractors have been working to resolve this.

“The current keypads have been fitted temporarily as the section behind them needs to be replaced.

“We are very sorry for the length of time that it is taking to carry out permanent repairs and would encourage anyone who needs additional assistance in the interim to contact us directly.”