Disabled residents of a block of flats in Maidstone fear they could be trapped in their homes for the next month after both lifts broke down.

Thomas Place in James Whatman Way has been without either shaft for almost a week, with tenants who have mobility issues stranded for the duration.

The nine-storey 57-flat sheltered accommodation is run by Housing and Care 21 and the company is currently working to rectify the problem.

Rita Blackwell, who has lived on the top floor for almost three years, said residents had been told it could be more than a month until the lifts are up and running as the contractor is waiting for a part.

The 58-year-old, who lives with her 73-year-old husband who suffers from dementia, added: “The majority of residents cannot leave the block. One lady went down to the second floor and couldn’t get back up so is having to stay in the guest room, another woman is stuck on floor one.

“Apparently a man from Housing 21 is staying at the White Rabbit over the road and will come across to winch the lift down by hand if someone needs to get out in an emergency.

“We have had lift breakdowns before but never for so long and never both at the same time.”

She added some residents have had to move out until the lifts are fixed.

Another of those affected is former Maidstone Borough Council Labour councillor John Morrison.

“It’s ridiculous in this day and age for both lifts to be out of action for so long.” — John Morrison

The 82-year-old, who represented Park Wood and Senacre Ward for 21 years before boundary changes and Fant Ward for a further two years before retiring, has been a resident on the fourth floor for nearly three years, suffers from dementia and has pacemaker.

He said: “I can get up and down the stairs if I take it very slowly and have someone to help me. But some people are completely marooned.

“It’s ridiculous in this day and age for both lifts to be out of action for so long.”

On Wednesday Neal Hodkinson, who also lives on the eight floor, brought his wife back from hospital but could not get her to the flat because of lift not working. He had to stay in hotel as a result.

A spokesperson for Housing and Care 21 said: “We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our residents at Thomas Place by the faults with the two lifts. Engineers have been called and are at the court working to get them back running as normal as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, we have arranged alternative accommodation for some residents and arranged for shopping to be collected and meals delivered to those who can’t manage the stairs. A lift engineer is currently based at the court to give supervised access to one of the lifts to make sure people can use them to attend medical appointments and so on.”

“We will keep residents up-dated on the work to repair the lifts.”

A Maidstone Borough Council spokesman said it has the power to step in if property owners do not address issues but in this instance the landlord is doing all it can to fix the issue.