A former professional soccer player has admitted taking part in an armed robbery at a Huddersfield post office.

Lewis Emanuel – who played for Luton and Bradford City in his career – admitted holding up Skelmanthorpe post office in May.

At Hull Crown Court, Emanuel, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

He was one of two men wearing balaclavas who went into the Commercial Road office.

The second man, Craig Ward, 26, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Kirsty Emanuel, 28, denied possessing criminal property.

Emanuel, of Lowfield Close, Bradford, and Ward, of Lindale Road, Bradford, were remanded in custody.

Both men and Mrs Emanuel, are due to reappear at Hull Crown Court on November 25.

West Yorkshire Police said no-one was injured during the raid at the post office on Commercial Road on May 24.

But staff were ordered to hand over cash to the men, who then got away in a car, officers said.

Among those in the office at the time was a two-year-old girl who was ordered to lie on the floor.

The robbers made customers – including the toddler – lie on the floor while waiting for the timelock on the safe so they could steal more cash than they could get over the counter.

The postmistress, 50-year-old Jill Brennan, said she had been behind her counter when two men in balaclavas entered the office and shouted: “Give us the money, give us the money.”