Wheelchair user trapped in Reading flat since lift breakdown

A wheelchair idiosyncratic has described being "trapped successful my ain home" for astir a week owed to a assistance being retired of action.

Jamie Robertson said helium has not been capable to permission his 2nd level level successful the Hermitage artifact successful cardinal Reading since Saturday.

It has near him incapable to spell to enactment and is causing him "emotional distress".

The spot absorption institution liable for the flats said the assistance would beryllium repaired connected Friday.

Mr Robertson said it has been retired of enactment since Saturday erstwhile different nonmigratory was trapped and had to beryllium rescued, which near the doors damaged successful the process.

With nary alternate assistance and with 4 flights of stairs, it has efficaciously near the lifelong wheelchair idiosyncratic incapable to permission the property.

"The assistance is hugely important - it's my lone mode of entering and leaving the building.

"This feels similar a re-run of lockdown - I consciousness powerless. I've been isolated from friends and family. It's conscionable been awful," helium said.

In the past 11 years since helium bought his flat, the assistance has failed connected astatine slightest 16 occasions, helium said.

While nutrient has been brought up to his flat, helium has not been capable to permission for his occupation astatine the University of Reading Students' Union.

Mr Robertson said helium was getting "more and much anxious with the situation".

"I'm trying to rise consciousness for radical with pushchairs oregon mobility issues - this isn't acceptable for anyone.

"When it comes to disabled people, it seems to beryllium little down connected the precedence database - oregon astatine least, that's however it feels," Mr Robertson added.

Property Management institution First Port, liable for the block, told the BBC an technologist would beryllium connected tract connected Friday to hole the lift.