A POPULAR milkman who spent 40 years serving south Durham said it was the customers who kept him going so long.

Alfie Blackett, of Bishop Auckland, retired last month after deciding he could not face another bad winter in the job.

The 74-year-old use to get up at 12.30am, six-days-a-week, before delivering to 180 customers throughout the week across Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland and Shildon and returning home as late as 11.30am.

“It was the customers who made it,” he said. “Without them I would not have carried on so long. I miss them and I really enjoyed what I did.

“The last couple of winters have been fine but we had some a few years ago and they were terrible and it was so difficult to do the job.”

Mr Blackett is still adapting to putting his feet up but he is finally getting round to reading a book about late Manchester United footballer George Best and attempting to enjoy a lie-in.