left my 2006 v70 for 3 months with hand brake on near side rear wheel will not release .the disc brake is ok as the wheel will turn an inch or so each way, does the hand brake have a seperate drum arrangement, because of the time the brake was left on possably rust is the problem if so how can i release it. have tried moving the car forward and back but the wheel remains locked

 

Sounds like the brake shoes are stuck to the rotor. Either try the forward and back again or remove the wheel and try tapping on the rotor by the hub.

 

Just had the same problem on '06 V70 5m. Parking brake handle might be floppy without tension when released, might not. Depends if both sides are frozen. The wheels will rotate about an inch back and forth because that's how much play there is with the parking brake shoes (which are frozen). Anyway, easy fix. Pull the rear wheels and tap on rotor hub as tech said with a hammer. Use the broad side of a 2x4 piece to protect rotor if you really have to whack it, but don't strike the smooth rotor face. Tap gently around the circle...rust will fall out and you should be free.

If this doesn't work you may have a delamminated parking brake shoe stuck in the rotor. If that's the case the rotor has to come off.