A MILK round that has been running since 1931 will make its final deliveries this weekend — after bosses said it simply didn't make enough money.

Isle of Wight Cheese Company boss Richard Hodgson, who bought Queen Bower Dairy in November last year, said that despite his best intentions he had been forced to call time on the milk round.

He told the County Press: "After purchasing the farm from Michael and Jane Reed, it was always the intention to try to make a success of the milk round. Sadly, with ever increasing costs associated with small scale dairy farming, we have been left with no choice but to cease the bottling side of the business."

The delivery round started in 1931 and serves between 150 and 200 customers in the Adgestone, Shanklin, Winford, Apse Heath and Sandown areas.

Mr Hodgson said: "We wanted to continue but, unfortunately, the numbers just didn't stack up. I have struggled to try to get some way for it to work. It is just one strand of the business we are having to close. There is no other way round it.

"I am grateful to the customers and have had lots of lovely comments from them."

The final deliveries will be made today (Saturday).

The company has spoken to Wight Milk, based at Coppid Hall Farm, Havenstreet, about the possibility of its dairy delivering milk to Queen Bower customers.