For the elevator broke down between the ground and first floors, of Mercury House, on Front Street, trapping the workers for more than 10 minutes.

The Fire Service were called and used a key to open the doors before helping the trapped people to climb the few feet onto the first floor.

A spokesman said: "They had been hoping to go two or three floors up but the lift just stopped.

"They were in there for about 10 minutes and they were all pretty calm.

No-one was hurt.'' CASE ADJOURNED CTS Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ground yesterday adjourned a $500,000 civil suit brought against the Imperial Hotel Company by a local businesswoman.

Ms Joyce Hayden, owner of La Femme lingerie shop in Hamilton, claims she is owed the money as compensation for financial losses incurred while she was a business tenant in the Imperial Hotel building at the corner of Church and Burnaby Streets.

It is understood her claim relates to the condition of the building while she operated her business in it from 1985 to 1987.

Lawyers for the two sides spent the morning arguing over whether each had disclosed all the proper documents, including the reports of expert witnesses.

Mr. Jai Pachai for Ms Hayden said he needed the testimony of an accountant to proceed with his case.

Mr. Ground adjourned the case without setting a date.

Mr. David Kessaram represented the hotel company.

POLICE SEEK DRIVER CRM Police want to speak to a van driver who could have valuable information about a bag-snatcher.

The driver helped the victim of an attempted robbery, and now might be able to help Police track the bag-snatcher down.

The incident was near Willowbank Hotel, Somerset Road, at about 3.15 p.m. on Saturday, when a woman was walking with her daughter.

A man came alongside on a motorbike and tried to grab the woman's handbag, but she managed to hold onto it and he rode off.

Police now want to contact a man driving a white panel-sided van, who stopped and was "very helpful'' to the victim.

The driver appeared to have his wife and young child in the van, and may have been carrying building materials.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning asked the man to contact P.c. Gareth Davies at Somerset Police Station, 234 1010.