GR lens cover problem

My GR lens cover is sticking and won't open or close. It was working fine one minute, switched it on a few minutes later and now the lens cover is knackered. The warranty has run out too. One of the two leafs doesn't move at all, the other takes about 3 minutes to open or close. Has anyone any ideas, or has heard about this? It's my most used camera, and I've just bought the wide lens for it, so I'm pretty gutted.

Has it been physically damaged? If not, then I would look at either mechanical failure or a dying battery that no longer charges properly. Batteries do have a finite life and will only perform well for a number of charge cycles.

Thanks, John. It turned out to be some sort of sticky goo that had somehow got into the leaf mechanism. Possibly a spilled drink at a party I was using the camera at a few days ago. I've managed to clean it out with some isopropyl alchohol, suggested by Smeggy, and it's now working fine again. Phew!