A WOMAN who trapped her index finger in a franking machine had to be taken to hospital with the machine still attached after firemen could not free her. The 26-year-old woman became trapped at 4.30pm yesterday at RPC, Haslingden Road, Blackburn.

The machine is used to electronically stamp company logos and postage cost on envelopes. Firefighters and paramedics could not free her and she was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with the franking machine and Blackburn fire crew at 5.15pm. Doctors anaesthetised her finger and firefighters cut her free.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.