A milkman has proved he is cream of the crop after being named his dairy's best.

Sean Garvey, of Thackley, has stopped on his rounds to unblock sinks, replace smoke alarm batteries and deal with a gas leak - and his community spirit has won him the Express Dairies Milkman of the Year award.

He will go up against four milkmen from other dairies next week to compete for the top prize.

The 33-year-old father-of-two started delivering milk in Calverley, Apperley Bridge and Guiseley five years ago and quickly became known for his friendly service and community spirit.

Mr Garvey has set up a crime-busting newsletter 'The Bottle', in which he reports anything suspicious he has spotted on his rounds.

There have been times when Mr Garvey has called the police up to three times a week - and he once rang them six times in one night.

"Milkmen are a visual crime deterrent. At that time there is no one around except milkmen and the thieves," he said. "Milkmen are like a night patrol."

The work which won Mr Garvey the award also includes:

l paying for lockable bottle cages for customers following thefts of milk

l devising bird-proof plastic lids

l chasing a couple of would-be burglars when he spotted them putting on balaclavas.

Mr Garvey said: "I have a proper mixture of customers. The older ones really rely on the service, they can't go into the supermarkets and carry back three or four bags.

"The middle-aged customers also keep the service going: they haven't forgotten about tradition."

Mr Garvey is popular on his route, regularly stopping for a cup of tea and a chat and keeping an eye on his older customers.

He called the emergency services after an elderly man had not brought his milk in for three days and also returned a handbag after a female customer left it on her own doorstep full of money.

"Her husband wanted to know why the milkman was calling her at three in the morning!" Mr Garvey joked.

He said he was delighted to be nominated for the award by his customers.

"A milkman is a person people can trust, they see him every day," he said. "They see you as a friend, not just someone who delivers milk. They invite me in for a cup of tea and buy me Christmas presents and even Easter eggs for the children."

Mr Garvey, who used to work in the construction industry, said that he loved his job because it gave him the chance to spend time with his children, five-year-old Avalon and Leon, aged eight months.

He will find out on Tuesday whether he has won the national final of the Milkman of the Year and either £1,000 or VIP football tickets to a Premiership football game.

A spokesman for Express Dairies said Mr Garvey had been picked for delivering outstanding service and community spirit.

He said the milkman had built a bond of trust and respect with his customers.

The Milkman of the Year awards are organised by the Dairy Industry Association Limited and recognise excellence in customer service.