GRAVE concerns have been raised about faulty lifts at blocks of high rise-flats in Flint.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it had to free residents stuck in a lift at Bolingbroke Heights on Monday, while another says they were trapped there on Sunday.

And residents report that "almost daily" one of the lifts at either 17-floor Bolingbroke and Richard Heights breaks down - leaving the elderly, disabled and those with health issues to battle the flights of stairs, or trapped in their flat.

Lillian Renshaw, alongside two disabled residents, was one of those freed by the fire service on Monday.

She said: "I can say that the lifts faults are almost daily, often not reported because they shudder and stop for a minute or two then seem to reset themselves.

"Having said that, I have heard that people have been stuck for longer.

"Today (Monday) we were stuck in the lift for 47 minutes and it's lucky there were only three of us - I dread to think how uncomfortable it would have got if the lift was full or if the other occupants had not managed to remain calm."

"As residents we feel as if we are shouting into the wind."

And people living in the flats say the issue has persisted for over a year.

Mrs Renshaw added: "It has gone from being an occasional happening to being a regular occurrence.

"I no longer invite friends to visit in case they can't get up or down.

"I understand that these things take time but we have been patient."

Another resident, Margaret Thomas, told the Leader: "The council has spent a lot of money on installing a new security system and automatic doors but the lifts are continually breaking down.

"They repair them but it doesn't last - it's getting way beyond a joke now."

While Flintshire Council says it has asked the company responsible for the lifts to conduct a "robust and detailed assessment" of them, more incidents of people getting stuck have come to light.

Barbara Masters, whose mother-in-law lives on the 17th floor of Bolingbroke Heights, got stuck in the lift after visiting her on Sunday.

She said: "It's happened before where it's got stuck for a few seconds, but on Sunday it was a good five minutes so we had to pull the emergency cord.

"I don't like lifts at the best of times so I freaked out."

And Miss Masters says dreads to think what would happen if her mother-in-law, 72-year-old Elizabeth Pearson, got stuck in the lift.

She added: "My mother-in-law has serious heart problems, so if the lift's out of section she's literally stuck in her flat as she'd never be able to manage the stairs.

"And God forbid if it broke down with in her in it, she'd likely have heart failure due to the shock."

Neal Cockerton, Flintshire Council chief officer housing and assets, said:"Following reports we have engaged with our External Lift Company, which is responsible for the maintenance and safe operation of our lifts. We have asked for a robust and detailed assessment with a view to complete any required remedial actions immediately to ensure their continued operation.

"The council also proposes to renew each of the six lifts within our high-rise blocks on a rolling programme of work over the next three years commencing with the renewal of one of the lifts within Bolingbroke Heights as a priority from April 2020 onwards.

"We will be communicating with our tenants over the upcoming weeks to discuss our proposals in more detail."