A MILKMAN injured when he was thrown from his float as he tried to stop two robbers speeding off in it early today, has spoken of his ordeal.

Kevin Parkin, 39, who delivers to Dunnington, Holtby and Stockton-on-the-Forest, was hurt when he clung to his float for more than 200 yards while wrestling with one of the thieves who was at the wheel.

He injured his back and was treated at York District Hospital.

He told the Evening Press today how he was left feeling "sick, angry and scared" after the incident, which happened in Holtby shortly before 4am. He had come across a stolen car abandoned in the middle of the main road through the village and had stopped to take details to report it to the police.

Immediately, he was approached by two men who asked him for a lift to Tang Hall.

He told them he could only take them as far as Murton. But the pair then shoved him out of the way, jumped into his float and sped off towards York.

He said: "They just took me by surprise. I grabbed hold of the driver and was trying to pull him out but he was driving all over the road trying to throw me off.

"I was hanging on for dear life but he was pushing me. I fell to the ground and hurt my back. It was just awful."

Police said the Nissan Cabstar vehicle had been loaded with between 1,200 and 1,400 pints of milk and an amount of cash had been in the cab.

The milk float, blue with a white rear section and with the lettering "K & J Parkin" written on the back, was spotted at about 4.10am in Hull Road, York, when several bottles of milk were thrown from it.

It was later found dumped in Tang Hall with about half its load missing.

Mr Parkin reckons about 440 of his customers would have been left without milk today and he appealed for their understanding.

He added: "I hope this pair appreciate the impact of what they have done, all for a lift home and a bit of fun.

"It is not just what has happened to me - there are a lot of people, particularly the elderly, who depend on me for their milk."

The pair were described as being aged about 19. One was wearing a brown shirt and the other a white jumper.

Anyone with information should call police in York on 01904 631321.

Updated: 13:10 Saturday, April 06, 2002