But, as her friends began giggling, nine-year-old Aimee-Louise suddenly realised it was no laughing matter – she was stuck fast.

From that moment on, things went from bad to worse and Aimee-Louise's plight almost brought busy Serpentine Green at Hampton, Peterborough, to a standstill.

No matter how much she wriggled and squirmed, the embarrassed youngster could not get out. Her leg was trapped by the bin's metal casing.

What had started out as a prank when her best mate Luke Hamblyn (9) came up behind her and shouted "boo" had turned into a calamity.

Try as they might, her family could not dislodge the youngster, and then attempts by Serpentine Green security staff to prise her free also failed.

In the end, with her daughter stuck fast, Aimee-Louise's mother Michelle had little option but to phone 999.

As a fire crew more used to battling flames than freeing primary school pupils from shopping centre bins arrived with a chainsaw, shoppers were flocking to witness the drama. The firefighters had to erect screens to hide poor Aimee-Louise's blushes.

Seeing the funny side of the situation, step-sister Becky (18) took a snap of the rescue operation on her mobile phone.

An hour after Aimee-Louise's ordeal began on Thursday, the chainsaw did the trick and the firefighters released her.

Today, the youngster, of Montagu Road, Walton, Peterborough, said: "I told them I didn't want anything noisy because I've seen the sort of things they have to do to free people on TV.

"It was painful and embarrassing. I had a dent on my leg under my knee and scatches on my arm. It was a day I won't be able to forget."

She added: "When I got out, it was great to be able to stretch my legs again. I just wish people would stop calling me the bin lady."

Her mum said: "Even the firefighters found it hilarious, but Aimee told them if they were laughing she didn't want their help."

One person who wasn't laughing was fellow William Law Primary School pupil Luke.

He said: "I was really scared for her because she couldn't get out. When I said 'boo' I didn't expect her to get stuck in the bin."

Warned that her embarrassment will be brought up time and time again, a rueful Aimee-Louise smiled, adding: "I know."