He has been doing his milk round for 60 years but now Christopher Ketteringham has delivered his last pint to the people of Wisbech.

The 74-year-old grandfather had his last shift on Easter Saturday after he began delivering milk in the town at the age of 14.

His father had started the business in 1934 and soon gained a loyal following of customers – which were taken on by Chris after he passed the business onto him and his wife Bridget.

Chris, from Quaker Lane, said he had not only made friends but potentially saved lives from his quick-thinking when he would notice that milk bottles had been sat on doorsteps for a few days.

He said: “I started when I was 14 about half an hour before school, then I worked with my father on the milk round and he passed it on to me.

“You get to know people as your friends. Sometimes for elderly people you can be the only face that they see all day. So you have a chat and go in and put the milk in the fridge and look after them.

“There’s been times when I would call the police or an ambulance out too, especially when you go and see milk still left outside for a few days. You literally save lives, but you don’t want any recognition for it because you’re just doing your job.”

Chris and Bridget also owned the family shop Ketteringhams in Park Road, until it closed a few years ago.

He continued: “Meeting the people has got to be the highlight for me – I had some lovely customers and I was in tears on my last day and so were they. It was very emotional.

“The round had shrunk after many years but there were still people who wanted milk delivered to their doors – there was still the demand although it doesn’t happen very often.

“I’ll still see everyone around even if it won’t be the same.

“I keep bees and I’m into amateur dramatics and will be staring in The Mikado in Wisbech next week.”

Loyal customer of around 40 years, Mary Brady, also praised Chris for his hardwork in the community.

She said: “Chris was absolutely reliable, out in all weathers and up at the crack of dawn six days a week - he will be missed.”