Handbrake stuck

[lateconvert]

Left the pub yesterday lunchtime, start car, can't release handbrake. Spend 15 mins trying every whichway. The end button depressed right in and won't budge in or out. From initially thinking it's a nuisance, the enormity then hits me - rear wheels locked solid, can't push it to more convenient place, can't tow it, can't roll onto low loader to transport. Start to panic. Get lift home, phone Fernies. They say they had a similar problem due to the Leven alloy replacement. Advise unscrewing end button, replacing old original one but not screwing right home & trying to release. I return and do this - after 30 mins no good, the more I unscrew end button and push it in, the more it disappears inside lever and won't pop out. Then try to remove centre console to see if I can access cable,ratchet and pawl. Two screws at front, two screws at rear under coin tray thingy , console very loose but something still stopping it lifting off. Give up. Drown sorrows in pub. One last desperate try at wiggling/wrenching before lift home. Suddenly handbrake flies off!
OK, now mobile and happy but I won't use handbrake now in case it happens again (imagine embarassment factor if locked back wheels at awkward junction and can't push car to side!).
So: (1) Has anyone had similar problem and resolved it?
(2) How do you get centre console off and access
to handbrake mechanism ?

[paulu]

lift up the little panel in the rear of the thing and remove the two screws and lift up slowly, you should be able to see the handrake from under neath but if you want the panel out completely you have to remove both the gear and door nob! and out it comes.

[nigel2]

I had the same thing with a Leven handle. Got it to fly off by hitting the button with something heavy. Since then I refixed the handle & put a bit of Araldite on to ensure it stayed fixed. So far no probs