Linda Viccars is a woman with a lotta bottle who has climbed to the top of a male-dominated profession.

The 49-year-old believes she is the first woman to be put forward for the title Milkman of the Year.

Linda, from Berry Close, Burgess Hill, has been delivering milk for 14 years.

The nomination came as a complete surprise to the pint-sized mum-of-two, who said: "I know it is a rather unusual job for a woman but I love it."

Linda normally delivers up to 600 bottles a day in a round, a job which requires her to get up at 1am.

But she says the job fits in well with family life.

Linda, who is 5ft3in, said: "When I first started, the round I did passed my house and I was able to pop in to check that my daughters were up and ready for school. We would never be short of milk because I would deliver to my own house."

The job fits around Linda's marital life as well because her husband Peter is also a milkman.

According to Linda there are just a handful of women working the milk rounds of Sussex and she reckons it is a tough job for a woman.

Linda explained: "You need a lot of stamina to do this job - it is physically very tough. It doesn't suit everyone - but it suits me."

Linda's name was put forward by Mrs Dyer, of Downscroft Road, who said: "Linda looks after us as if we were her own family. She is punctual, efficient, thoughtful and always has a smile for her customers."

The finalists of the National Dairymen's Association will be announced next month and the winner will be chosen in March.

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