A SMITHILLS couple have been left baffled by a mystery thief who is showing a lotta bottle in relieving them of their morning milk.

Frank and Carole Heron say the early morning raider has twice creamed off their two pint delivery in less than a week by getting through their fence.

And measures they have taken to prevent the thefts have failed to keep the light-fingered phantom from his silver-top swag.

Self-employed painter and decorator Mr Heron, 64, said they first fell victim to a milk thief at the Lonsdale Road home ten years ago.

"We had it for a few weeks and it was annoying but then it stopped, so I doubt it is the same person," he revealed.

"The first theft came last week. We have wooden panelling which is about 6ft by 5ft, at the front of our house. There was a small hole in one of the panels and someone has put their hand through and taken the milk."

The theft could have only taken place between in the early morning following the delivery and before Mr Heron collects the milk.

"After the first theft we decided to block the hole up with stones and asked the milkman to leave the delivery closer to the door in a crate," added Mr Heron. But that failed to stop the cheeky thief when on Monday morning they lifted an entire section of the fence up, propped it up with a piece of wood and reached in to grab the crate and the milk.

"I just couldn't believe it, we didn't hear or see a thing," said Mr Heron. "It's funny in a way and you have to admire this person's perseverance. The fence panels are not that heavy but they do get stuck when you are lifting them out. There is no way it could have been children."

He added: "I wouldn't have a clue who's doing it or why, it's only 74 pence worth of milk."

Mr Heron says he will now be taking measures to secure the fence so it cannot be lifted up and will be asking his milkman to leave the bottles in a new more secret place.

"It's funny at the moment and when we saw what they had done we both laughed," said Mr Heron. "But it could be annoying if it carries on so we have had to think about how we are going to stop it."