IT'S EASY to think fresh milk from a glass bottle belongs to a bygone era as supermarkets stock aisles of six pint plastic behemoths.

But one delivery firm in Oxford is desperate to recruit more milkmen for its regular rounds and insists the trade is "alive and kicking".

About 90 people work across milk&more's two depots in Abingdon Road, Oxford and Banbury and new faces are needed to keep up with regular demand.

Colin Clarke, 50, the depots' operating manager, said: "We have an ageing workforce, with three retirements in Oxford in recent months.

"Instead of taking the milk round out we have been trying to recruit to replace them."

At present milk&more's Oxfordshire staff deliver to more than 21,000 customers, with fresh fruit juice, eggs and bacon on offer as well as the milk itself.

It is now more common for milkmen to take on a night shift - from 11.30pm to 7.30am the next morning - to ensure the bottle is promptly on the doorstep at 8am.

The starting salary for milkmen/women at milk&more is £23,000.

Mr Clarke said: "The most important thing is getting that pint of milk to people. If there's sickness or staffing issues, all of us bar none will get out there to deliver the milk.

"I believe customers stick with us because they can almost time their watches and clocks by it. When they hear the milkman outside there's that comforting sound, the old romance that's still associated with traditional milk rounds. It still exists."

The father-of-two, who began in the trade 30 years ago doing rounds in Newbury villages, said he recalled being invited indoors for tea by regular customers.

He added: "We held the Euro 96 football competition in England and people were still up from parties the night before; you joined in the festivities with them.

"You feel very privileged. You are out in all winds and weathers so it's different every day and being part of the community is as important now as it was then."

For more information on roles available visit milkandmorefranchise.co.uk