A MILKMAN from Pendle has been named among the top five in the country – thanks to recommendation from his loyal customers.

Andrew Thorpe, 39, was among the finalists in Dairy UK’s prestigious Milkman of the Year contest.

Andrew, from Earby, has been doing his rounds over the Yorkshire border in Ilkley, for the past 15 years.

Today, he has around 1,700 customers in the town, and his business, A & R Thorpe, delivers 18,000 bottles of milk a week.

He employs three full-time staff, who also gained nominations for the competition from satisfied customers in the area.

His milk is supplied by a dairy in Grassington, North Yorkshire.