MILKMEN in Bolton are offering their services to tackle rundown areas as part of a new scheme

School children and customers can challenge their milkmen to help brighten up blackspots under the Arla Action Challenge as well as delivering their daily pinta.

Leeds-based dairy Arla, which has a depot in Bolton, has set up the scheme to improve its role in the community.

An Arla spokesman said: "It could be a facelift for a rundown hall, cleaning up a graffiti hotspot, clearing litter from an eyesore canal, planting trees in a decaying landscape or simply enlivening a school playground.

Imagination

"Anything that captures the imagination of school children and local folk will be considered as long as it puts a smile on the face of the local or school environment."

Mags Siddle, from Arla Foods, said: "Milkmen and women are part of the community and this is a great way of working together to improve the environment."

The 'Arla Action Squad' of milkmen will accept tasks up to a maximum cost of £3,000.

They will then either pay for workmen to do specialised jobs or send milkmen to help out.

Primary schools will be invited to submit ideas, drawn and written by the pupils and winning schools will get £500 each towards their projects.

The scheme will begin at the end of May when the winning entries have been selected.