RESIDENTS in Southampton’s tallest building are being left high and dry – because their new lifts keep breaking.

Families in the 24-storey Millbrook Towers say they are becoming virtual prisoners in their own homes because the block’s two elevators are so unreliable.

One lift has been out of action for weeks, sparking waits of up to half an hour to get into the second, which keeps breaking under the strain.

Council contractors were yesterday fixing the faulty elevator at the 240ft building, but residents are demanding to know why there are so many problems.

Just two years ago, more than £311,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent replacing both lifts at the block, which has almost 150 flats.

Residents held a party to celebrate, but days later couldn’t believe their eyes when the out of order sign was put back up after it broke down.

The council is now looking at potential legal action against contractors to ensure the elevators are up to standard.

“It was only a few days ago it was shut down to have something done to it and then a couple of days later it broke down with people in it,” said gran Tina Jupe.

Her 25-year-old daughter Samantha Biacsi lives with her three young children – Taylor, six, Tilly, four, and one-year-old Faith – on the 12th floor.

“There’s a note down there today saying they’re going to be out there for a couple of hours while they fix it, but you give it a couple of days and there’ll be another note.

“It’s ridiculous. With only one working she has to wait half an hour out there anyway before you can get in the lift to get to school on time.

“When it’s not working Samantha’s stranded – she can’t take three kids and a pushchair down 24 flights of stairs. I normally come to help her so she can get the kids to school, but I’ve got arthritis in my knees and can’t get past the third floor.”

Block tenants representative Mo Simmons said: “It’s a safety issue. It’s better it’s taken out of service to sort it out properly than having people getting trapped in the lift.”

A Southampton City Council spokesman said contractors are due to report back this week with an assessment of the problems with the first lift, which was removed from service a fortnight ago.