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Reporter trapped in bedroom for three hours

A Burton Mail journalist had rather an unusual start to his working day when he found himself trapped in his bedroom thanks to a faulty door handle.

Reporter Ed Hill was stuck for more than three hours, and was forced to call the newsdesk on his mobile to explain why he would be late – much to the amusement of his colleagues.

Ed and his girlfriend Emma Patrick, who was also locked in, were only freed after climbing out of the window and getting help from the company which they bought the shared ownership house from just six weeks ago.

Ed, (23), told HoldtheFrontPage: “I’ve had quite a bit of stick (at work). I don’t know if they believed me straightaway.

“It’s been quite embarrassing really, and I was forced to write a story on it and have my picture taken afterwards as punishment for being late!”

Ed discovered he was trapped after waking up ready for work only to find the door refusing to budge.

The handle had broken and the latch could not be prised open, despite the use of an improvised toolbox, including a pair of a scissors, a hair grip and a credit card.

To make matters worse, the couple had left the keys in the front door, meaning that, even after clambering out of the bedroom window, they still could not get access to the rest of the two bedroom flat until help arrived.

Mail editor-in-chief Paul Hazeldine said: “Journalists are often unfairly accused of making things up and on this occasion, we really did suspect Ed of being a bit creative with his excuses. Then we realised it was so ridiculous it had to be true!”