A DAIRY farmer has set up his own business in order to secure his future in a rapidly changing industry.

Skelton-based David Stevenson has struck out on his own and established Endeavour Dairy on his farm at Trout Hall.

He took the radical step of forming his own dairy as a result of the problems being faced by farmers in their role as milk suppliers to larger conglomerates.

Mr Stevenson said: "I started the bottling plant in order to survive. The margins for selling milk these days are negative, and this is an attempt to secure a long-term future for my family and me.

"I saw this as a way of being able to provide local people with a quality local product that they would want."

Now two months old, Endeavour Dairy employs two full-time staff and two part-time staff, all of whom have undergone a hygiene training course at Middlesbrough College.

The herd of 140 cows produces between 2,700 and 2,800 litres of milk a day, which is pasteurized and bottled daily. Endeavour Dairy sells skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole milk in one pint, one litre and two litre containers.

David was given help in creating the new firm by Business Link Tees Valley, which helped him to secure a grant of £15,000.

Business Link advisor Ken Harrison is impressed with the quality of product being produced. "His milk is fresh, fully traceable, local and on the doorstep within 24 hours of leaving the cow," he said.

Mr Harrison assisted the dairy in reaching the standards required for production by the Environmental Health Department. The dairy was planned and advised by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service and Redcar and Cleveland Environmental Health Department.

The milk from the dairy is distributed by Andrew Batchelor and Dave Wildon, who between them deliver to Hinderwell, Runswick Bay, Brotton, Easington, Loftus, Liverton and Moorsholm.

Mr Stevenson is the fourth generation of the same family at Trout Hall Farm.

The family used to sell milk locally until the Sixties so Mr Stevenson is reviving an old family tradition and response from local people has been 'very positive', he said