IT is a disgrace that the emergency services cannot gain automatic access to the high-rise flats like the block I live in, which has an 'intercom' security system.

I found this out recently at three o'clock in the morning when my intercom buzzed. At that time of night, you do not let anyone in -- I thought it was someone acting the goat at the front door, so I swiched the buzzer off.

It must have been about five minutes later when I thought to check and see if all was OK. Then I heard a cry for help -- it was from my neighbour who had fallen and could not get to her feet and, so, had rung the ambulance service.

They came but could not get into the block, so they rang my buzzer. As I said, I thought it was someone playing the fool, but when I realised who it was who buzzed, I had to open my window to tell them to press my number again.

Luckily, my neighbour was not serio.usly hurt. But if she had been, those lost minutes might have cost her life. So is it not time that the emergency services were issued with a master key to gain entry to these flats?

G PILKINGTON (Mr), St Michael's Court, Daisyfield, Blackburn.