DISTRESSED shoppers had to be rescued by the emergency services after getting trapped in the lifts at IKEA.

Fire crews from Caversham and Dee Road were called to the furniture giant at around 6.30pm on Thursday.

Rescue teams used specialist keys to gain access to the lift in order to free the customers.

The store has been blighted by a number of traffic jams since opening in July 2016.

IKEA offered customers free delivery on orders over £150, if they could prove they had used the bus to travel.

A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "At 6.35pm on Thursday, Thames Valley Fire Control Service received a report of people stuck in a lift at IKEA on Pincents Kiln in Calcot, Reading.

"A crew from Dee Road Fire Station released two people from the lift and were on the scene for just under 10 minutes."