Six stuck in hi-tech car park

Six people were left red faced after locking themselves inside a high security car park in Shropshire.The group called the fire service after getting trapped in the yard behind apartments in St Julian's Friars, Shrewsbury, for more than 45 minutes yesterday.

Gareth Hipkins was moving out of his flat and his girlfriend Cindy Blackburn, her mother Kathy and his sister Sue Hayley had dropped by to help clear it out, along with nephews Jamie, six, and 11-month-old Sam.

Unfortunately Mr Hipkins shut the door to the block - leaving his keys upstairs in the flat. The car park exit was blocked by a steel gate which can only be opened with an electronic key - also left in the apartment.

The six - including claustrophobic Kathy, 46, from Bayston Hill - were otherwise surrounded by 10ft high walls.

Mr Hipkins managed to clamber out using a ledge but had no way of getting into his flat.

Eventually, after a fire crew from Shrewsbury had arrived at about 5pm and called police to assist, another resident turned up in her car and freed the others.

"I was a bit stressed really - I don't like being trapped in spaces and we started to panic," said Mrs Blackburn.

Mrs Hayley, 34, from Sundorne, added: "It's pretty embarrassing. We had all just come round to pick up some things quickly."

Firefighter Ian Pugh said: "It turned out our assistance was not required."