Ministers rescued from lift in new government hub

The lift was in the Government of Jersey's new offices in St Helier

Jersey's chief minister has blamed "teething problems" in a new government building after he got trapped inside a lift.

Deputy Lyndon Farnham, Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat and two office staff spent about 40 minutes in the lift of Jersey's new government hub in St Helier before they were freed by engineers.

Farnham said the "doors closed on the sixth floor and then nothing happened".

He said the pair, who had several folders of paperwork with them, made the most of the time by "brushing up a bit" ahead of a States meeting on Tuesday.

'Prompt rescue'

The new building on Union Street opened at the start of December.

Farnham said: "Fortunately the time was not wasted.

"Everybody was fine, but it is not an experience I would recommend to anyone."

The chief minister thanked lift engineers for the "prompt rescue".

"I think we'll put it down to teething problems with the building," he said.