A MEMBER of the Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra got more than he bargained for after a short toilet break turned into a lock-in, during a concert at Pershore Abbey.

The musician, the 4th horn in the orchestra, had popped into the public toilets in Church Walk midway through the concert on Saturday, only to find that he couldn’t get out again.

Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra chairman Ian Pattison explained: “He went in the interval but didn’t come back. The show must go on and we had to play the second half of the concert without the 4th horn.

"We all wondered how someone could get locked in the toilet, we were very concerned for him. If it had been an older person they could have had a heart attack.

“He did get back to the Abbey but I’m not sure if the orchestra was still playing at that point. He did all the rehearsing so I would imagine it was a huge disappointment for him.”

Wychavon District Council confirmed that the toilets, which are open from 8am to 6pm, are managed by Mitie Cleaning and Support Services, but on this occasion it wasn’t a punctual toilet attendant to blame.

Council spokesman Spencer Winnett said: “It seems the lock on the door malfunctioned so the gentleman inside was not able to re-open the door once he had locked himself in.

"The nature of the malfunction meant the door was not able to be opened from either the inside or the outside, and the fire brigade were called and asked to force it open.”

Freeing the man soon became the number one priority for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue, which confirmed that it had received a call to attend at about 3.45pm.

Fire service spokesman Julie Wedgbury said: “One crew from Pershore attended and used specialist equipment to force the door open, and the man was freed at just after 4pm.”

The nature of the release means the door was damaged so the male toilet in Church Walk is currently out of order.

Wychavon said it hoped the toilet will be back in use within a week.