Residents at a block of flats in Hotwells say they have been campaigning for a lock on the front doors of their block – for 12 years.

Ex-scaffolder Jim Pressagh, 70, said vandals, tramps and drug addicts regularly get into the foyer of St Peter's House, at the bottom of Jacobs Wells Road.

"We've lived here for 22 years and we've never had a lock that works on those doors," he said.

"We've been calling on the council to do something about it for years.

"When the doors are vandalised, they replace them – but not the lock, so it happens again.

"We're sick of it because it's an open invitation to all sorts to come in at any time of day or night.

"Strangers come in to eat their fish and chips. And I often find people in the lifts early in the morning when I go out for a walk.

"Sometimes they are asleep.

"Sometimes they are smoking drugs. I tell them to go and, so far, they have done.

"But anyone who tackles these people is putting themselves at risk of violence."

Retired scientist Mary Hemming, who also lives in the block which is mostly council-owned, said: "I know people doss down in the lifts at night.

"If I go out to the bins, for instance, I might be in danger from someone who has wandered in.

"We should have proper doors."

Pensioner Maureen Thomas said: "We want security. People come wandering around the walkways on the upper floors.

"It's putting us in danger."

Mr Pressagh would also like doors installed that open automatically, to make it easier to manoeuvre his wife Mary's wheelchair through them.

A city council spokeswoman said: "We recognise the tenants' concerns over access to St Peter's House and council officers have been working with them to try to improve security, including introducing measures such as having regular night-time visits by our security staff.

"We are currently seeking money from the budget to enable us to install a secure door entry system for the building."