RESIDENTS in a high-rise block of flats are set to be without a lift for up to six weeks after a car crashed into a nearby electricity sub-station.

Many tenants who are elderly, have disabilities or are parents of young children needing pushchairs have been unable to leave their Waterside House block for over a fortnight, it is claimed.

They have been told by housing association LiveWest the lift is unlikely to be operational for another three or four weeks.

The tenants have been told they will receive compensation.

The lift went down following a power cut caused by a car crashing into the sub-station on Trenchard Way on Monday, January 10.

LiveWest is unable to repair the lift until specialist parts arrive from another country.

One resident said: "I'm able-bodied, but quite a few of the tenants are elderly, disabled or parents of young children who have been unable to leave their flats since it happened.

"We've had engineers come to 'fix' it, but each time they've left and the lift's still not working.

"It's beyond a joke."

James Reseigh, director of neighbourhoods for LiveWest, said: “We fully understand our customers’ frustrations and apologise for the difficulties this is causing.

“The issue with the lift has coincided with a car colliding with a local electrical sub-station which caused a power cut to the flats at Waterside House where, indications suggest that when power was restored to the flats, a power surge damaged the electronic equipment in the lift.

“Our specialist lift contractor has tried to fix this lift equipment and we arranged for a technical engineer to attend on Sunday.

“Unfortunately, it has now been identified that specialist electronic parts are required to resolve the issue.

“These parts are not manufactured in the UK and we expect to receive them within the next three to four weeks.

“We are doing everything we can do to ensure these arrive as quickly as possible.

“We had made arrangements for extra support on site for our customers all this week and next week, including weekends where they will help residents with carrying items and delivering shopping.

“We have already updated customers and will be keeping in regular contact with them to talk about individual support needs and additional help we can provide.

“In recognition of the inconvenience caused, we are offering each resident compensation.”

READ MORE: Car crashes into sub-stationo on Trenchard Way, Taunton.