A GROUP of eight pensioners are stuck in a lift at the Odeon in Andover tonight.

James Thomas, 81, and seven friends got in the elevator after planning to see a screened performance of the opera La boheme.

But the pleasant night out turned into a nightmare after the lift got jammed between floors at about 7pm and the group have been stuck ever since.

Mr Thomas, of Chilbolton, pulled the alarm and dialled 999 and firefighters are at the scene trying to rescue the occupants.

He said: “Communication with the cinema management has been nonexistent.

“We raised the alarm and nothing happened so we had to speak to 999 and the fire brigade are here now.

“There are eight of us and we were all going to see the performance of an opera that’s beamed to the cinema – it’s a special occasion but we are not at all happy.”

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed that a pump was dispatched to the cinema at 7.12pm and said: “We tried to lower the lift but we were unable to move it and we are still on the scene.”

Odeon Cinemas were unavailable for contact.

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