TWO milkmen have been forced to do their morning rounds together because problems with abusive yobs has led to fears for their safety.

Brothers Mark and Philip Wright, from York, have taken the action after suffering constant threats and intim- idation from gangs of teenagers in the early hours.

Mark, 39, from Woodthorpe, had more than 60 pints of milk stolen from his milk float in one day earlier this month, then three youths demanded money after refusing to let his float pass.

"It's absolutely horrendous," he said.

"They just follow us around for hours, shouting and swearing. I'm not prepared to go out in the early hours on my own and put up with that any more. I'm more comfortable with two of us doing it.

"It's a hard enough job as it is."

The brothers, who start the round at 1am and finish at about 8am, delivered a letter to their 1,200 customers across west York explaining the situation.

"I hope you can understand our position, but our personal safety has to come first," the letter says.

The change means that the customers will get deliveries on only three days a week, although they will receive the same number of bottles.

Mark, a milkman for about eight years, who operates from a depot in Hull Road, said the thefts had cost him up to £60 a week.

"If the amount of milk we sell falls, we will just have to give up," he said.

"I'm not scared, it's just upsetting. They are so young we can't do anything - it's all just a game to them."

Superintendent Alison Higgins of York police, said: "No one should have to put up with this type of abuse."