A WOMAN who had to be freed from a lift by firefighters claims it is continually breaking down and stretching the resources of the fire service. Jan McErlane, who lives in Ivel Court in Letchworth GC, says the lift servicing the flats repeatedly gets stuc

A WOMAN who had to be freed from a lift by firefighters claims it is continually breaking down and stretching the resources of the fire service.

Jan McErlane, who lives in Ivel Court in Letchworth GC, says the lift servicing the flats repeatedly gets stuck and she has twice been trapped.

Mrs McErlane, 50, said: "Fortunately I had my mobile with me the second time but I have been stuck in the lift before for about an hour with five people and I didn't have my mobile with me. We didn't even know what floor we were on and had to shout for help.

"It's not fair for the fire brigade to have to keep coming out and it's stretching their resources. They came out three times one Saturday and that's not funny."

A spokesman for North Hertfordshire Homes said: "There has been an ongoing problem with the lifts at Ivel Court caused by continued vandalism which has affected the controller.

"A new controller has been fitted in the last few weeks and as far as we are aware the lift has been operating normally.

"We have also been working on replacing the lift with a more up-to-date model which will include anti-vandal devices that will help alleviate the current problems.