HE might not drive the fastest milk cart in the west, but one County Durham man’s traditional delivery service is off to a flying start.

Businessman Russ Gibson has turned milkman in a bid to return the once common dairy delivered to the streets of Newton Aycliffe.

Aycliffe Dairies launched last month after the 36-year-old local research on social media identified a demand for the doorstep service which started to fade from the town in the 1990s.

He is now delivering almost 1,000 glass bottles of milk and juice a week to customers in Newton Aycliffe and surrounding areas, while businesses are now on board too.

Mr Gibson believes its popularity is in part owed to the growing awareness of the environment and the concern over the harmful effects of plastic.

“I was a milkman for many years and unfortunately due to supermarkets selling milk cartons cheaper, glass milk bottles became unpopular which made your traditional milkman unable to compete with the supermarkets.” he said.

“But now recycling is a big thing in all areas and the milk cartons are made of various different plastics which makes them difficult to recycle, which has spurred consumers on to look for an alternative, such as the glass bottle which is 100 per cent recyclable.

“This has led to a rise in the demand for the traditional door step milk man service.”

As well as amassing 200 residential customers, Mr Gibson is now providing milk and cream to Jackson’s Coffee Shop and Sabre Rail on Aycliffe Business Park, as well as the Bay Horse in Middridge and Horndale County Infant and Nursery School.

The venture is delivering 300 pint bottles of whole milk, 350 bottles of semi-skimmed milk and 250 glass bottles of juice to customers a week, as well as free range eggs, bread, yoghurts and milkshakes.

He is sourcing all of his supplies from within the County Durham area – his milk is from Lanchester Dairies and retails at 56p a pint.

Aycliffe Dairies can also deliver larger quantities of milk to businesses in recyclable plastic bottles

“The feedback we’re getting is fantastic,” added Mr Gibson. “Some people just want to see a nostalgic return of the milkman and some people want to make an environmental statement.

“But I think the overriding message is that the milk is sourced locally and delivered to your door on a morning at a reasonable price, which people have really missed.”

Mr Gibson believes his offer alongside the so-called "war on plastic waste" could spark the return of the neighbourhood milkman across the UK.

  • For information about the business call 07751000828 or email aycliffedairies@gmail.com

Here are just some of your comments on whether you would have your milk delivered over buying from a supermarket:

Mark Peacock: 1 pound for 1 pint in a glass bottle or 99p for 4 in supermarkets I love the idea of going back to traditional milk delivery but affordability may kill it off before it restarts

Venus Sheridan: Still have my milk delivered

Lisa M Prince: The price of milk is loads cheaper in store but the orange juice I would consider 

Chris Brown: It's only 56p a pint doing a good job Russ Gibson enjoy receiving ours every day

Lisa Cummings: Definitely, would have changed back to a milkman years ago if we had one in out area

Sandra Appleby: Absolutely but the local milkman won’t deliver to us we are off his route ! We ran a milk round and I would have extended my route it’s less than half a mile out !!! So I will continue to buy plastic !!!!!

Carole Plowman: Yes. I currently have my milk delivered

Lee Dickenson: As long as it's chilled and in glass bottles, certainly. Our most recent milkman delivered plastic bottles from the back of an open back van - nothing like warm milk.

Chris Snow: I would if I wasn't lactose intolerant.