As picture editor for The Sentinel, Martin Elliott doesn't get out of the office as much as he would like - but a rare job to cover football in Leeds saw him locked in the ground.

The Staffordshire snapper had travelled to Elland Road to cover the Stoke City game, but after a lacklustre goalless draw things got more exciting off the pitch for Martin.

He set to work sending photographs from the match to The Sentinel picture desk ready for the Sunday paper, and got so engrossed that when he turned round everyone else had gone.

The paper is currently changing over its photographic equipment, and the large files Martin was sending took a long time to process.

Martin said: "It was easier getting in to the Vatican than it was getting into the stadium - the security was that tight - but the worse problem was getting out.

"When I had finished scanning and sending the photographs I noticed I was the only one left in the room and when I went to the door it was locked.

"I thought I was stuck. I had visions of me having to spend the night there, which I'm sure Leeds fans would have loved but it would have meant not getting a drink."

Luckily, Martin managed to alert a cleaner who let him out, and the experience has not put him off.

He is keen to get out of the office again - once the new equipment is in place.

He said: "I used to love doing the football and really missed it so when the opportunity came up I jumped at it, but I'm so out of practice that these things happen.

"When we have the new equipment I'll be delighted to cover more games, but I'll be sending pictures from the car!"