HER hair had been styled specially and her best official outfit donned... but there was disaster for the Hartlepool's Deputy Mayoress when Princess Anne came to town.

Deputy Mayoress Mary Fleet and other dignitaries were about to meet the Princess Royal at the Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club (THYC) and, after drinks and canapes, got into the lift to descend to the ground floor for the big moment.

But the lift stuck two or three feet from the ground and the Mayoress was trapped, missing Princess Anne, who visited on Tuesday (September 23).

Five other dignitaries managed to clamber out of the narrow gap but Coun Fleet, a pensioner, said she did not feel safe, and stayed put.

Coun Fleet, who was back performing her ceremonial duties yesterday (Wednesday, September 24), said: "It was just my luck, the luck of the Fleets, to miss her. Of course Princess Anne won't even have known I was there and I think everything else went according to plan.

"I didn't dare try to get out but there was a very nice young girl who managed to get chair in so I could sit down and I had my mayoral consort and friend, (Coun) Sheila Griffin, with me.

"Everyone was really nice, but Geoff, our official driver was a bit annoyed on my behalf. I was a bit embarrassed - there will be more jokes flying around than enough and everyone was talking about it."

Coun Fleet, who had her hair done at Twins Hair Studio in the town on the morning of the visit and was wearing her best official suit and mayoral chains, was deputising for Mayor Stephen Akers-Belcher, who is on holiday. Earlier yesterday she officially opened new accommodation for people with mental health issues.

A long-standing councillor and community activist, Coun Fleet has previously visited the Prime Minister in Number 10 Downing Street and has met royalty on previous occasions.

Barry Hughes, Commodore of THYC, stressed no-one was in any danger during the lift incident and the problem was quickly dealt with.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said a crew was sent to the scene at 3.59pm and stayed for about an hour until a lift engineer arrived.

It is thought the lift broke because there were too many people in it at the time.

Princess Anne, President of the Royal Yachting Association, arrived by helicopter to visit the venue at Hartlepool Marina, which she officially opened back in 1998.

The main purpose of her visit was to launch the Sailability Pontoon which helps disabled members enjoy the sea and Tees. She also cut the ribbon on a new £100,000 training facility.