Sir, – It was heart warming to read (D&S, Jan 15) of the milk tankers battling the conditions to reach the dairy farmers in Wensleydale, not missing a pickup or delivery.

On the letters page, the public in North Yorkshire showed their appreciation for the efforts that were made to keep roads and pavements clear, also to those who continued to make deliveries.

I would like to say a big thank you to our local refuse collectors here in Richmondshire. We are out in the rural area living halfway up a farm track and, as there are a number of properties here, the refuse wagon has to come up the track to collect.

Using his JCB, sterling work by the farmer at the top of our track kept the drive open during the bad weather, thus allowing us to get in and out with our cars.

At no time did the weather conditions stop our movements, in fact we had our milk delivered and an oil tanker got up here. Also our post arrived each day.

Since Christmas we have had two refuse collections, on both occasions the truck battled to get to the collection point, but could only get half way. Both times the crew jumped out, walked to the bins, wheeled them to the wagon and returned them to back to the pickup point.

On both occasions, I thanked the crew for their efforts of not only trying to get all the way to the bins, but also for what I call, a “customer first” attitude. It is a term many people feel does not relate to them these days.

The second crew had a relief woman driver who was very thankful for the appreciation shown to her and her colleagues, as she did say that refuse staff were always getting complaints made against them.

Well that might be so, but if certain crews had a positive attitude like our collection teams, then there would be more praise and appreciation for their efforts As the snow thaws we now await the arrival of the recycling teams, whom we have not seen, since two weeks before Christmas.

R WALKER Dalton, Near Richmond.