Repairs to lifts providing easy access to the Greenwich foot tunnel have again been delayed, this time due to “international supply chain disruption.”

The lifts on both sides of the river need repairing, which requires detailed conservation plans to be approved and bespoke parts made due to their unique historical nature.

The revised date for their reopening is now early March 2022 – around four weeks longer than anticipated.

A spokesperson for Greenwich Council said: "The council is working closely with suppliers to minimize the delays, caused by shortages in stainless steel and electronic components, which are beyond our control.

News Shopper: The foot tunnel's lifts are difficult to repair (Wiki)The foot tunnel's lifts are difficult to repair (Wiki)

"At this point we are unable to predict if any more delays will be experienced.

"We will continue to update tunnel users as the repair work progresses."

Access to the 119-year-old tunnel via the stairs will remain open 24-hours-a-day.

The public are advised to be mindful of using the lengthy stairs, which can be challenging for people with reduced mobility or fitness.

Repairs are the first phase of a plan exploring replacement of the existing lifts, as even after the current issue is resolved, they remain vulnerable to further unpredictable faults.

The initial phase would seek to increase the reliability of the service and keep it open.

Members of the public can use the DLR at cost alternatively, between Cutty Sark and Island Gardens.

There are two foot tunnels in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, one in Greenwich and the other in Woolwich, which are used by 1.5 million people a year.

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletters to get updates sent straight to your inbox.