British Formula One racing legend Stirling Moss has suffered serious injuries to his feet after falling down a lift shaft at his residence in London at the weekend.

The lift stopped a floor above Moss but the doors opened and he stepped in without realising, falling three floors to the ground.

The 80-year-old racing veteran suffered two broken ankles, four broken bones in his feet and four chipped vertebrae.

Fortunately he is now apparently comfortable and recovering in a London hospital after surgery to both ankles, which have been plated and pinned, according to a statement published on his website.

He is expected to take six weeks to recover from his injuries.

During his extensive motor racing career, he raced over 80 cars and took part in 529 races, winning 212 of them.