A JUDGE has applauded the bravery of three Post Office workers - including a Silsden woman - who tackled a would-be robber wielding a gun.

Sub-postmaster Ted Sample grabbed Sam Dunning's arm after the 21-year-old barged into the post office at Ilkley railway station at opening time on November 4 last year.

He disarmed him and pinned him to the floor while his colleagues, Carol Sienkiewicz, of Silsden, and Yvonne Kierman restrained Dunning on the ground until the police arrived.

This week Dunning, of Skipton Road, Ilkley, was starting a four-year jail sentence after pleading guilty at Bradford Crown Court to possessing an imitation gun with intent to commit robbery.

Judge James Stewart QC praised the "immense" courage of the sub-postmaster and the two women who worked there and awarded them £100 each from public funds.

"They have the admiration of the court for the courage and determination they showed," he said.

Later Mrs Sienkiewicz said she had been absolutely terrified by the robbery.

"It was awful, it really was," she said. "Ted was grappling with him when I came into the office. I rang the police and Ted had him pinned down and had taken the gun off him.

"Yvonne was lying across his legs but he was still thrashing about so I sat on him as well."

Mrs Sienkiewicz had only been at the Station Road Post Office since June but had previously worked at Silsden Post Office for eight years.

She added: "I don't know if I would do the same thing again. If someone came and pointed a gun at me I probably wouldn't, but when someone needs help you just get stuck in."