PENSIONER and heart attack victim Joan Walmsley has told of being "a prisoner in her own home" because of a delay by her social housing provider in sorting out a malfunctioning lock.

The 79-year-old widow from Huncoat has been effectively trapped in her ground floor flat for more than three weeks, terrified to go in case she cannot get back in.

The great-grandmother is also frightened to lock herself in her home in case she has another heart attack and family and emergency services cannot gain entry.

After the intervention of the Lancashire Telegraph, landlord Hyndburn Homes have promised a new door a with working lock by tomorrow (Wednesday), almost six weeks after she first alerted them to the problem.

Mrs Walmsley said: “This has been a harrowing experience for me, especially as I had a heart attack in December.

“I have been virtually a prisoner in my own home for more than three weeks.”

The former weaver and bookkeeper’s ordeal began on February 11 when the lock on the only door to her Fir Court, Woodside Road, flat seized.

She contact Hyndburn Homes and a visit by a housing officer confirmed the need for replacement.

Mrs Walmsley told them she was on holiday visiting her son in Norway from February 18 to 28 and expected a letter outlining the action to be taken on her return.

However, after getting back to her flat, when 29-year-old granddaughter Kelly-Marie forced open the lock, she found no communication.

On March 1 she contacted the landlord again to be told there was no record of her complaint.

The following day a joiner fitted an indoor bolt to her door and told her not to use the lock at all.

Mrs Walmsley then only left the flat once, leaving the door unlocked, for an urgent doctor's appointment.

On March 9th a locksmith re-barrelled the lock but said this was not enough to solve the problem and told her a new door was needed.”

She said: “If I go out I have to leave the door unlocked or risk being stuck out in the cold until someone helps me as I have arthritic hands.

“I am frightened I might be locked out for good.

“If I stay in, I either leave it on the bolt, which is insecure, or lock it and risk being trapped.

“I cannot thank the Lancashire Telegraph enough for getting something done.”

Cllr Eamonn Higgins said: “It is not good enough that Mrs Walmsley has been a prisoner in her own home for so long, especially with her heart problems.

“I shall be ringing her on Wednesday to ensure the door has been fitted.”

Kim Smith, head of neighbourhood services at Hyndburn Homes, said: “I’m very sorry to hear about the problems Mrs Walmsley has been experiencing because we take our tenants’ security very seriously.

“The door needed to be dealt with by a specialist locksmith, so we have replaced parts in the door as a temporary measure while we wait for a new door to arrive.

“Unfortunately, there was a delay in getting further access to the property as Mrs Walmsley was on holiday.”