A grandmother was "trapped" in her flat for almost a month after the lifts broke.

Eileen Hayes, 78, felt “locked in” at her flat in Wilbury Road, Hove, after the lifts broke down on Christmas Day due to flooding.

Ms Hayes, who has been in a wheelchair since 2018, had to rely on friends to get shopping for her.

She is one of many residents who have been confined to Harewood Court, which is retirement housing.

The Argus: Eileen Hayes was one of multiple residents confined to their flats because of the broken liftsEileen Hayes was one of multiple residents confined to their flats because of the broken lifts (Image: The Argus)

Ms Hayes said:  “I felt like I was locked in here by the walls. It was awful, I was trying not to think about it.”

The problem got so bad that Peter Kyle, Labour MP for Hove, wrote to estate agents Parsons Son and Basley on January 10 to express his concerns about “residents who have been confined to their apartments due to this issue”.

The Argus: The broken lifts in Harewood Court, HoveThe broken lifts in Harewood Court, Hove (Image: The Argus)

He criticised the estate agents’ “lack of communication and most importantly the fact that the lift service has not been fixed”.

When The Argus called yesterday, the agents promised they would be fixed.

A spokeswoman for Parsons Son and Basley said: “Replacement lift parts have been sourced and are being fitted to the lifts at Harewood Court, Hove, this afternoon Monday, January 23. 

The Argus: Ms Hayes felt trapped in her flatMs Hayes felt trapped in her flat (Image: The Argus)

“We expect the lifts to be back in full operation by this [Monday] evening.   

“We have communicated directly with residents affected by the flood and its repercussions.  We again apologise to residents for the inconvenience caused.”

The lifts were fixed and back in full operation by the evening.

Ms Hayes said: “It was fixed today. The last month, I didn’t realise how much the walls were surrounding me until now when I had a way out.

“Now, I can get downstairs and upstairs. It’s such a relief.”

Ms Hayes recently spoke to The Argus about her experience becoming paralysed following an epidural.

Ms Hayes felt her life had been “taken off” of her after the procedure.

She said her and friends would be having a party on Monday night to celebrate her being able to get out the flat.