Staff still in shock after kidnap drama

Staff at Hertfordshire's West Lodge Park Hotel are still in shock after their property became the setting for a tense kidnapping drama last weekend.

In particular, duty manageress at the 45-bedroom hotel in Hadley Wood, Tonia King, is reeling from her role in the kidnap rescue.

Ms King was on duty at the property early on Saturday evening when police began their surveillance of a group of guests suspected of holding a 21-year-old disabled man prisoner in their bedroom.

Six hours after the surveillance operation started, the man was freed when police stormed the bedroom using stun grenades.

Since then, Ms King has had to give countless interviews to television and newspaper reporters, recounting the dramatic events.

"My five minutes of fame seem to be going on and on, and I am not enjoying it. I just want life to get back to normal," she said.

Throughout the drama, Ms King was asked to ensure that guests and diners in the hotel restaurant did not learn what was happening.

When smoke from the stun grenades set off the fire alarm, Ms King had to pretend to guests that the system was faulty.

And when the suspects ordered room service, Ms King was prepared to go herself rather than let a staff member take the risk. "It sounds brave," she said, "but really I was very relieved when a police officer offered to go instead of me.

"We cobbled together a uniform, and it looked fine, except for the fact that his shoes were incredibly dirty," she said.

Another staff member who helped police out with the surveillance operation was receptionist Stuart Dunlop, who traced the suspects' telephone calls to Liverpool, where the kidnap victim is from.

An irony of the whole drama is that, while the kidnappers paid cash up front for their stay, one of the other hotel guests has refused to pay for his room because of the upset caused during his visit.