A judge has commended the courage of three post office workers -- including a Silsden woman -- who tackled a gun-wielding would-be robber.

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.

A Court heard how Mr Sample was able to disarm him and pin him to the floor.

His colleagues, Yvonne Kierman and Silsden woman Carol Sienkiewicz, pictured, then restrained Dunning on the ground until the police arrived.

On Tuesday Dunning, of Skipton Road, Ilkley, was starting a four-year jail sentence.

He pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court on January 24 to possession of an imitation gun with intent to commit robbery. Sentence had been adjourned for probation reports.

Following sentencing at Leeds Crown Court this week, Judge James Stewart QC praised the post office workers and awarded each of them £100 from public funds.

After the hearing Mrs Sienkiewicz said she was satisfied to see Dunning sent to prison.

She added: "Ideally I would like it to have been more than four years, but I half expected it to have been less the way things are nowadays, so I am quite happy about it."

Asked what was going through her mind at the time of the attempted robbery, she said: "I was absolutely terrified -- it was awful, it really was.

"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 worked at the Station Road Post Office since June, but previously had worked at Silsden Post Office for eight years.

During that time it was raided, but the incident took place when the branch was closed and no staff were present.

Asked what she thought of the judge's award for her public-spirited actions, she said: "It is amazing -- it is brilliant. I shall treat myself to something nice but I don't know what yet."

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."

Prosecutor Helen Sanderson told Leeds Crown Court that Dunning had barged into the post office at 9am, brandishing a ball bearing gun.

Mr Sample immediately seized his arm and they struggled together. Dunning's head then hit the wall and Mr Sample disarmed him and pinned him to the floor.

His female colleagues rushed to help and he was restrained until the police arrived. Officers seized the gun and a devil mask from Dunning.

Dunning's barrister, Robin Frieze, said it was a ham-fisted and unsophisticated attempt at robbery.

He said Dunning had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was of previous good character.

"It was a ball bearing gun and it was not loaded," Mr Frieze said.

But he conceded that it must have been "a terrifying experience" for the three staff members.

He said they all showed considerable courage and one of the women had removed Dunning's shoes as they restrained him.

He described the defendant as "an isolated, emotionally immature and vulnerable young man", and said that although it was a serious offence it was not likely to be repeated.

Dunning had been held in custody and it had been the shock of his life for him.

Judge Stewart said: "I think there would be public outrage if I was to pass a suspended sentence."

He told Dunning that he had little doubt that his abuse of cannabis over many years was a contributory factor to him committing the offence.