AN 82-year-old disabled woman is a prisoner in her home after the lift broke down at a sheltered housing complex.

Pensioner Mary Nelson could be stuck in her third floor flat in Overnewton Street, Yorkhill, for two weeks after housing association bosses said that the lift may remain out of order for that time.

Great-gran-of-five, Mrs Nelson, who has been a resident in the complex for 17 years, said she felt like a prisoner and had not been downstairs in five days.

The lift broke in the four-­storey block of flats, home to around 38 elderly residents, last Wednesday.

The residents had to try and walk up the stairs to get back into their homes. However firefighters had to be called out after one man in a wheelchair could not be taken up.

Yorkhill Housing Association posted a letter dated September 26, saying it had been advised by its contractor that residents should prepare to be without the lift for up to 14 working days.

Mrs Nelson has had a hip replacement and can only walk with the aid of two sticks.

She uses her mobility scooter to get around outside the building.

The OAP, who is originally from Easterhouse and has been a widow for 32 years, said: "I can't even think about going up or down three flights of stairs.

"I was down playing bingo with the others on Wednesday night when the lift broke. I had to pull myself up the three flights. It took forever clinging to the banister.

"I couldn't even see when I got to the top.

"The fire brigade had to come and get one man because he couldn't be helped up.

"I haven't been downstairs since, I feel like a prisoner."

Mrs Nelson is cared for by her son James, 56, who lives in Rutherglen.

He said: "It's an absolute ­scandal that it could take this long to repair a lift.

"I understand that they might need a spare part, but 14 days means most of the people who live here won't get up or down at all in that time.

"A lot of these people have hospital appointments, dental ­appointments, opticians and they need to be getting out for their shopping. I can get things for my mother, but she hates being stuck in - and it's not fair that she is."

The Evening Times called and sent e-mails to Yorkhill Housing Association, but no-one contacted us yesterday.

The letter written by the housing association said: "Unfortunately the lift at the complex has broken down.

"The contractor who maintains the lift has advised that it could take between five and 14 working days to repair the ­broken part.

"Every effort is being made to try and get the lift working as soon as possible, but the contractor has advised that we should prepare to be without the lift for up to 14 working days."

A spokeswoman from Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed it had to help a male resident get back to his flat in the early hours of last Thursday.

She said: "We did attend Overnewton Street at 1.05am on September 26 after reports of a gentleman in a wheelchair needing access to his house after the lift was out of order."

rachel.loxton@eveningtimes.co.uk