OLD-fashioned deliveries of bottled milk are set to arrive in more East Lancashire towns thanks to a fledgling environmentally-conscious company.

Inspired by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, and the devastating impact of non-recyclables on our oceans, The Modern Milkman trialled new rounds in Colne, Foulridge, Trawden and Laneshaw Bridge.

And now the quartet behind the go-ahead firm, which sources all its milk from a farm in Briercliffe, is looking to branch out to cover Burnley, Padiham, Nelson and Barrowford.

Co-founder Tom Shaw said: “We saw that there was a real opportunity to provide a doorstep service to people who wanted an alternative to single-use plastic, but that it would need to be delivered in a really modern way to fit the needs of our fast-paced lives today.

“We knew that we wanted to offer the traditional service, but with ease of ordering and payment.

“Next month we’ll be launching our new app, which people will be able to order via, making it even simpler.

“We think we’re the first in the country to do this.”

He has established the venture with Paul White, his partner in Colne-based marketing agency Wise Owl Creative, and their friends Simon Mellin and Becky Hilton.

Simon was one of the driving forces behind Roaming Roosters, at Fence, which he sold on two years ago.

He added: “The take-up has been incredible. There’s been such an appetite for it and I think it’s down to a combination of the ease-of-use, the desire to move from plastic and there’s still that really strong driver to support local farmers.

“We’re going to be more than just a milkman, offering a range of products that are easy to order

“Our fleet of new vehicles will arrive soon, and we’re ready to get cracking in other areas in East Lancashire and then beyond there.

“We hope to roll the app out nationally.”

The rounds also offer flavoured milks, fresh orange and eggs, alongside brownies, supplied by local bakery Blondie Brownie.