pg_stop_backup fails to complete

I trying to do a backup on my test database however I get

testrec=# select pg_stop_backup();
WARNING: pg_stop_backup still waiting for archive to complete (60
seconds elapsed)
WARNING: pg_stop_backup still waiting for archive to complete (120
seconds elapsed)

Etc.

If I do a ctrl-C I then get

testrec=# select pg_stop_backup();
ERROR: a backup is not in progress
testrec=#

I tried doing a select pg_switch_xlog(); before/during and after the
backup but this didn't help

I've seen this error in the lists but I am still unsure what's going on.

Can anybody explain what's happening and how to 'fix' it?

Thanks

Austen

Austen Birchall Senior Database Administrator
Met Office FitzRoy Road Exeter EX1 3PB United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1392 884481 Fax: +44 (0)1392 885681
E-mail: austen(dot)birchall(at)metoffice(dot)gov(dot)uk Website:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk