POLICE are continuing their hunt for a gang who carried out a £14,000 raid at a supermarket after the look-out man admitted his role in the crime.

Ian Fieldhouse was arrested shortly after the raid when the Audi getaway car he was using crashed.

Police were able to restrain Fieldhouse, but other members of the gang got away.

The raiders broke into Morrisons at Leek minutes after it had closed and stole thousands of cigarettes, which had been loaded on to mobile units ready to be put into a safe.

Yesterday, Fieldhouse, aged 25, admitted taking part in the break-in at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor Sue Hanson told the court: "Staff, who were still inside tidying up, were put in fear by what happened.

"A number of men broke in and wheeled out the cigarettes and put them into a van.

"Some of the men got into the van and others into an Audi. The Audi later crashed and the occupants got out and ran away. Fieldhouse was caught by police."

The defendant appeared before the court for the first time on January 25, charged with burglary.

Fieldhouse, of Squires Grove, Willenhall, admitted the charge yesterday at his second appearance before the court.

He will now be committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for sentencing.

His solicitor, Nick Davies, told magistrates: "My client enters the guilty plea on the basis he was the look-out when this took place."

The gang, wearing hoodies and carrying crow bars, forced their way into the store at about 8.20pm on Saturday, January 23. They made off in a white van and blue Audi car with thousands of cigarettes.

The Audi was being followed by police when it came to a stop in Endon after clipping another car. Three men escaped but the fourth, Fieldhouse, was arrested. The van was later found abandoned in Leek. All the stolen property was recovered.

Police suspect up to seven people could have been involved in the raid.

Student Antonia Edwards's car was spun off the road as the Audi overtook her in a desperate bid to escape police.

She is recovering from whiplash and has been left without her car, because her insurance company has so far refused to pay out.

The 19-year-old, of Orford Road, Endon, said: "My insurance company says I can't claim until police have caught the gang, because it is not known who was driving.

"I hope they catch them."

A Morrisons spokesman said: "Customer and colleague safety is of paramount importance to us. Following the incident on Saturday, January 23, staff at the Leek store have been offered support."

A police spokesman said: "We are still investigating the robbery.

"Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have information about the robbery, to contact us."

Detectives have been scouring through the store's CCTV footage in a hunt for clues.

They confirmed there will now be an increase in patrols at supermarkets across the town as a result of the incident. Shoppers and workers at Morrisons, Aldi, Netto and the Co-op have been asked to be vigilant for repeat attacks and to report anything suspicious.

Staffordshire Police can be contacted on 0300 1234455 or call the Crimestoppers confidential hotline on 0800 555111.