IT WAS an open and shut case for rescuers after seven-year-old Leanne Thorne got trapped inside a suitcase.

Leanne was holed up in the case for 15 minutes after a play stunt went wrong.

Little Leanne was zipped up in the holiday suitcase as she was playing at dressing up with her best friend Gabrielle Blezard, six.

But when the zip broke neither Gabrielle or her mum Caroline, of Basnett Street, Burnley, could get the case open.

Caroline said: "The girls were off school because of the weather and were in a bedroom at my home playing at dressing up.

"At first when Gabrielle told me what happened it sounded funny, but when I could not get the case open I began to panic.

"Leanne is asthmatic and I was frightened she might have an attack. It was scary."

Caroline managed to make a hole in the case with a pair of scissors but could not make a big enough gap to get Leanne out.

She telephoned for the fire and rescue service and comforted Leanne, who was crying for someone to get her free, while Gabrielle waited at the door for the firemen.

Sub officer Nigel Clark said: "Leanne was distressed and crying but it only took seconds using a craft knife to get her out.

"We gave both girls a Trauma Ted and Leanne soon calmed down."

Leanne said she had been "very frightened" but that she loved her new teddy toy.

The two girls were back at school today at St John's, Ivy Street. LEMME OUT! Leanne Thorne back inside the zip-up suitcase, with her her best pal Gabrielle Blezard