Residents have been left out in the cold since the intercom to their flats broke down more than three weeks ago.

People living in Parker Court in Foredown Road, Portslade, are fed up with people banging on their windows to be let in.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which is responsible for the block, says it hopes the intercom will be mended for the second time next week but engineers are waiting for a part to be delivered from Italy.

Pensioner Ruth Onslow, 74, said: "I feel very isolated. I live on the second floor and do not know when I have any visitors. Even when I do, I cannot keep running up and down the stairs to let people in because I have bad legs.

"We do not get our papers delivered unless someone happens to be down there to let them in.

"Last Saturday I did not get one at all.

"Someone also has to let the postman in as well.

"My sister-in-law comes in every week to take me shopping. The first week the intercom was broken she came as usual but went away again because she thought I was not in."

Fellow resident Anne Crouch, 67, said: "It is a ridiculous situation that is affecting me quite a lot.

"Last night at 11.15pm I was in bed when I heard people knocking on my window asking to get in.

"They wanted someone upstairs. I do not see why I should have to let people in who do not live here.

"It is getting a bit much now. It does frighten me. I am a pensioner and I do not need all the aggravation."

Neighbour Joyce Hough, 57, who is disabled, said: "To have someone banging on my window early in the morning when I am doing my physio is very inconvenient and extremely annoying.

"The council says it is waiting for a spare part to be sent over from Italy before they can fix the intercom.

"We suggested to the council the door be left open during the day but this has not happened."

A spokesman for the council said: "We are very sorry for any inconvenience that has been caused to the residents.

"There was a minor problem with the intercom on February 14 which we believe was fixed the next day.

"A new problem was reported to us on February 21 and we are hoping to have it sorted by the beginning of next week."