WHEN Kenzie Beale was finally freed from a toilet in a Launceston restaurant during a friend's birthday, he was forced to pay for the entire meal before he was allowed to leave.

As previously reported in the 'Post', 18-year-old Kenzie, from Launceston, had become trapped in Sagor's restaurant toilet because of a faulty new lock on January 9.

After half an hour of the staff trying to open the door, Kenzie rang his mum, Sarah Rendall-Beale, to explain the situation.

Sarah arrived at the restaurant within minutes and found that staff had only removed the outer handle and had not called the fire brigade.

She said: "I went outside and rang them, I wasn't sure if it was the right people to call but they said they were. It took less than five minutes and half a dozen firefighters were in the alcove of the bathroom trying to open the door."

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the 'Post'.