Disabled users of an Underground station have been left without access to a station on numerous occasion due to staff shortages.

Those using step-free access at Oakwood Station, were incensed after being told on seven occasions in just two weeks that step-free access was not available.

In addition, a Freedom of Information document from the Liberal Democrats assembly members, Caroline Pidgeon reveals that the lift at Oakwood has been closed 14 times during the past year.

Since 2009, there has been more than 60 closures of the lift at the station, according to the figures.

Janet Willingham, 68, a disabled user of Oakwood station, told the Enfield Independent of her anger at the lack of services meaning she has to find other ways to get to Finsbury Park to see her daughter.

She said: “On the Underground it is simple to get to Finsbury Park where my daughter lives, but I am constantly left frustrated by Oakwood station, especially in recent months, all because of staff shortages.

“Things were bad in 2011 but had slightly improved until last year and this year. It means that I have to get several buses or try and order a cab, which is not easy. TfL need to pull their finger out, its unacceptable.”

Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon said: “It is a disgrace that London Underground are denying access to the Tube for many disabled people and others who rely on using a lift at Oakwood Tube station, simply due to a lack of trained staff.

“Disabled people, along with parents with prams and buggies, already have to put up with extensive lift closures due to maintenance and replacement work. However, it just adds insult to injury to have to also face closures, which have no advanced notice, but which could so easily be avoided.

“Urgent action is needed to ensure the Underground has far more staff trained to supervise the operation of its lifts. Closures of lifts, simply due to an absence of trained staff, must become a thing of the past."

Lianna Etkind, of Transport for All added: "When cuts to London Underground staff were announced, TfL assured disabled people that accessibility would not be affected. Yet actually, the number of hours of lift closure on the Underground has risen in the last year.

"More than a quarter of the Tube is out of bounds to mobility impaired people anyway, so when stations where a lift has been installed are closed to us too, it’s another kick to our freedom to travel independence.”

Tony Matthews, general manager of the Piccadilly Line, said: "Overall, lift reliability on the Tube network is very good, with lifts available for more than 99 per cent of scheduled hours over the last year. Unfortunately, industrial action has meant that the lift at Oakwood has had to be taken out of service several times recently. We always advertise this immediately to customers and are working to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.

“We are investing hundreds of millions of pounds in making the network more accessible with new trains, lifts, and other improvements. We have staff at every station when services are running and always try to make sure that, for every station with a lift, staff are available to look after it. I apologise to any customers affected by the lift being unavailable.”