A MAN who suffers from severe epilepsy has spoken of the moment he thought he would die when he became trapped in a faulty lift.

Former driver's mate Keith Thwaites, 47, and his wife June, 65, were imprisoned for an hour and a half in a lift at their flat in West Street, Fareham.

The couple arrived at their second floor flat but the heavy doors refused to open any more than a couple of inches leaving them stuck.

At first Mr Thwaites, who cannot work due to his epilepsy, rang the alarm button but after getting no response he shouted for help.

He said: "I was shaking a bit because I started having an epileptic attack because I hadn't had my tablets.

"I am just so glad one of our neighbours finally heard our shouts and called the fire brigade who got us out.

"I was honestly terrified that I might die in there. If I don't have my pills it can be very serious indeed.

"The fireman who got us out said we were lucky because the doors are sound proofed and if they hadn't opened that little bit we could have been stuck in there for a long time."

Now Mr Thwaites is calling on Hermitage Housing Association, which runs his block of flats, to install a new lift.

He said: "I moved here because the doctor told me that I couldn't cope with stairs and needed a lift. Now I am too scared to use the lift and have to use the stairs. I want them to put in another lift quickly."

Neighbour Claire Mulgrew, 30, who was left with week knees after a back operation, is also being forced to use the stairs at the two-storey block.

She said: "I am very concerned about using it in case I get trapped. But I don't really want to use the stairs because it leaves me in a lot of pain."

Disabled Kevin Wilkes has problems walking and now uses a stick since an operation to remove a brain tumour.

He said: "I am in agony by the time I get to the top of the stairs.''

A spokesman for Hermitage Housing Association said they are awaiting a report on the lift from engineers to see whether any repairs are needed.

No other problem with the lift has ever been reported to housing officials.