MILKMAN Nigel Crocker is a member of an unfortunately declining breed. Not only does the 61-year-old happily get up at 3am, six days a week to go to work, he loves doing things for other people and he does them with a smile.

Mr Crocker richly deserves the MBE that was announced in the New Year Honours list. We congratulate him and hope he gets his wish that his decoration will be presented to him by the Queen.

Broad Town is lucky to have him. The service he provides cannot be bought along with low-priced milk sold in plastic bottles by superstores.