A broken lift is causing trouble for some of the elderly residents at an Isle of Wight retirement complex.

Homewight House, on Crocker Street in Newport, comprises 54 flats but has just a single lift.

The lift first broke on November 3, and while lift engineers attended the next day, they found an additional part is needed.

This was ordered as a matter of urgency, and it is due to arrive and be fitted later this week, but in the meantime, some of the residents unable to use the chairs are confined to their flats.

A spokesperson for the property management company said: “We understand that a lift being out of action in a retirement development can be challenging, and we are doing everything possible to support residents whilst we work to get the lift back up and running as quickly as possible.

“In particular, the development manager is doing what they can to minimise the disruption to residents, including helping with collecting shopping, refuse disposal and laundry collection.

“We have provided regular updates to residents and will continue to do so until the lift is back in action, which we are anticipating will be within the next few days.”