FED-UP students living in a multi-million-pound tower block which was at the centre of a major fire are furious that services they were promised have still not been built.

Students who have moved into Mayflower Halls in Southampton city centre say that the £70m complex is plagued with problems and they feel “ripped off” that a gym, 24-hour convenience store, laundry facilities and learning space have not been completed.

They also claim the halls have a catalogue of problems which are making their lives a misery, including frequent power cuts, water leaks, cold rooms, lifts breaking down and fire alarms going off without cause.

A petition is calling on University of Southampton bosses to take action and make up for what the students say are high rent charges while the building is not complete.

The complex is home to 1,008 students. It was the scene of a major fire in May which saw 300 workers evacuated after a blaze broke out on the roof. However, university bosses insist the incomplete facilities are not linked to this.

Accommodation at the halls costs between £136 and £141 per week for a self-catering en suite or premium en suite. Studio flats cost £174 and a self-contained one-bedroom flat is £196.

Postgraduate student Chris Brown, 21, said: “We knew all the work was going on but we weren’t aware how much. It does make you feel like the halls have been a rip-off as we don’t have half the facilities we’re meant to have.”

First year student Louis Holmes, 18, added: “We knew some facilities were not going to be available until January but now people are saying that they aren’t going to be open until March. Nobody is telling us what’s going on.”

A University of Southampton spokesman said there have been maintenance issues which “are to be expected” in the first few months of new-build accommodation.

He said: “Building work at the halls has been carefully controlled. The builders are signed up to the Considerate Contractor Scheme, which means they can only work between 9am and 5pm.

“To minimise the disruption, we have left an entire floor empty between the building work and resident students.

“Unfortunately, there was a delay with the laundry facility being ready at the start of term.”

The spokesman added that they have apologised for the delay and provided 23 days free laundry as compensation.