Billionaire retailer François-Henri Pinault was held captive in his car for an hour after becoming a victim of the trend for credit crunch boss-napping in France.

Pinault, who is chief executive of luxury brands group PPR and husband of Hollywood actress Salma Hayek , was trapped by 50 employees angered over 1,200 job cuts.

He was freed by riot police who dispersed the workers who wanted to hold him until the board at PPR – which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Puma and Fnac among others – agreed to resume talks to save jobs.

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