Milkman stabbed in stomach during Tarporley delivery round Published duration 31 January

media caption Rob Smith said being stabbed has not put him off being a milkman

A milkman was stabbed in the stomach by a boy after refusing the teenager a lift and noticing his friend was trying to steal a crate from the milk float.

Rob Smith was attacked on Eaton Lane, Tarporley, Cheshire, at 05:00 GMT.

The Briscoe's Dairy driver said he only realised he was hurt when he saw his hand "covered in blood" and had wanted to continue with his deliveries.

Dairy owner Edward Briscoe said he was impressed at his dedication, but sent him "home for a cup of tea".

image caption Dairy owner Edward Briscoe said he was "just so thankful he's not badly hurt"

The milkman said he had been "driving along a dark back lane" when "two lads jumped out [and] asked me for a lift".

He said he refused but then "one of them tried to steal some stuff off the back".

"I told him to go and the other one just stuck a knife in me."

He said he "didn't know what had happened to start with".

"It was only when I looked at my hand and it was covered in blood."

He added that he thought the attack was "disgusting", but it had not put him off being a milkman and he would be "back out there in the morning".

Mr Briscoe said it was "horrible to think there was intent there to really hurt someone".

"I dread to think what would have happened if he didn't have the thick coat on, but I'm just so thankful he's not badly hurt."

image copyright Google image caption The milkman was attacked on Eaton Road, near the junction with Cobblers Cross Lane

The dairy owner said the boys, who he described as being aged 15 or 16 and about 6ft (1.8m) and 5ft 3in (1.6m), made off through a gap in a hedge and across a muddy field.

"Someone's got to know who it is," he said.

"The field was seriously muddy, they will be covered - on their shoes, on their trousers."

Cheshire Police has asked for anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

image copyright Briscoe's Dairy image caption The milkman was treated by paramedics for a "nasty wound"