A British holidaymaker spend a night locked in a village hall in the east of France after mistaking the building for a hotel, said the local mayor this week.

The young woman in her thirties was travelling alone when she wandered into the building after seeing a sign for the ‘Hotel de Ville’, which translates as ‘town hotel’ but in French means town hall.

“Some local association staff were holding a meeting there that evening,” said Paul Rumbach, the mayor of Dannemarie, population 2500.

“On their way out they heard a noise in the bathroom, but thought nothing of it and locked the door behind them.”

Upon realising her error, the woman hoped to draw attention by switching on the lights, to no avail.

She finally posted a message in the door in pidgin French which said: “22.08.2009. I am locking here (toilet). Is possible door of to open?”, before curling up to sleep on a chair in the entrance lobby.

A pharmacist noticed the message on Saturday morning and released the tourist, who explained she had assumed that ‘Hotel de Ville’ was a hotel.

“She asked me where she could find a real hotel. I gave her directions and she set off, looking pretty sorry for herself,” said the mayor, who is thinking of having the Dannemarie town hall sign posted in English and German.

Thanks to the Age newspaper.  For more information visit their website.