Mrs. June Bulford says she had to give up her chambermaid job at the property after hurting her wrist in a washing machine.

The court action is another headache for the veteran MP, whose family-run Somerset Bridge Hotel is in receivership.

Mrs. Bulford, a Somerset resident, yesterday took out a Supreme Court writ against the hotel and Mr. Roberts.

She said her wrist was hit by the machine's spinning mechanism as she was taking laundry out in November, 1989.

Problems resulting from her injury meant she had to leave her job in September, 1992, she said. She is still in pain now, despite therapy and overseas medical help.

"I had to retire because of the accident,'' added Mrs. Bulford, who is represented by lawyer Mr. Delroy Duncan. "I need something to live on.'' Mr. Roberts, deputy leader of the Progressive Labour Party, was off the Island and unavailable for comment yesterday.

His daughter Ms Karen Roberts, former manager of the hotel, said she was unaware of the court action.

"As far as all the legal requirements go, we have done everything we could,'' she said.

The 24-room hotel was placed in receivership early last year for non-payment of bank debts.