Crimebusting milkman Sean Garvey has plenty of bottle when it comes to looking out for prowling villains.

The 33-year-old dad, pictured, from Thackley has come up with his own way of tackling crime on his rounds.

To keep his customers on guard against thieves and conmen, the gutsy milkman has started to produce his own crime-fighting newsletter called The Bottle.

He has just printed 800 of the third and latest edition reporting anything suspicious he has spotted recently while delivering to homes in the Idle, Greengates, Apperly Bridge, Calverley and Guiseley areas.

The newsletter has proved such a hit that customers are asking for extra copies to give to friends and neighbours and Mr Garvey has even had people offering to deliver it for him.

He said: "I don't want to scare people but I think it's better for people to know what's happening in their area than know nothing at all."

There are some occasions on his rounds when he calls the police up to three times a week - and the most he has ever rung was six times in one night.

"Because I'm out and about late at night and early in the morning, it's easy for me to spot someone looking suspicious or see if something's not right or out of the usual. I don't think twice about challenging people but I'm nice with it and if I think their story stinks, I ring the police."

He has tackled criminals in the past and chased them off. Once he saw two men get out of a car in Calverley with no lights on. He hopped over a couple of fences and saw them pull on balaclava so he hurled a milkcrate at them and they ran off.

Mr Garvey's crimebusting reputation has even won him super-hero status with some youngsters on his round.

"Their parents have told them I'm a good guy because while I'm delivering their milk, I'm keeping a look-out for baddies."

He added: "Milkmen are like a night patrol - probably more regular and frequent than the police. We are in the area a lot longer, do a lot of foot work and have a lot of local knowledge. People tell us things and we see things. The more milkmen on the streets, the safer people and their homes would be, I'm sure of it."

The latest The Bottle newsletter will be pushed through letterboxes this weekend.

News items include warnings to homeowners to switch on alarms even when nipping out for a short time, watching out for bogus windowcleaners and gardeners.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We are grateful to members of the community who pass on information about suspicious activity."