PENSIONERS swapped wry grins at the National Pensioners Convention conference in Blackpool yesterday as delegates at a talk on “getting around” were told the lift was out of order.

Attendees had made their way into the bowels of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens Arena for the fringe meeting — down three flights of stairs — with the aid of the building’s lift after a last-minute venue change.

But an apologetic Rosie MacGregor of the women’s working panel drew chuckles from the audience as she began her speech with a note from the venue’s chief steward, informing them that he had decided to cordon off the lift as it was “too bumpy” and could pose a health and safety risk.

Ms Macgregor tore into cost-cutting in Britain’s transport network, with a lack of cash for disabled access upgrade programmes keeping many train stations off-limits to older passengers and those with disabilities.