A BOLTON farmer is selling pints of milk direct to the public — at a local pub.

Farmer Mike Partington to selling direct to his customers at a Manchester boozer.

The initiative is part of the Food Assembly at the Stretford Sip Club and is a way for Mr Partington to cut out the supermarkets and get a fair price for his milk.

The plight of dairy farmers, who are forced to sell milk for below the cost of production by supermarket giants looking to entice savvy shoppers through the door, dominated headlines in 2015.

The price farmers are paid for their milk has fallen by 25 per cent over the past year and dairy farms are closing at a rate of nine a week.

Mr Partington, aged 53, who owns and runs Dearden's Farm, in Manchester Road, Over Hulton, said he would have been forced out of farming had he not turned to selling direct.

He added: “The drop in milk prices had a massive effect on the industry.

“There are dairy farmers leaving the business every week and I would have been one of them had I not turned to this.

“But I like doing it, I think it is more personal and you can take more pride in the service and it’s better for customers as they know exactly where their milk is coming from.”

Heather Garlick, owner of Stretford Sip Club and founder of Stretford Food Assembly, said: “The Food Assembly is a brilliant way of ensuring a fair price to a local farmer and keeping money circulating in the immediate economy.

“They're springing up all over the UK, which can only lead to a better experience for both consumers and producers."

Ordering can be done through the Food Assembly website and milk will be priced at 85p a litre and £1.65 for two litres.

Register on the site and browse the online market, which runs Friday through Tuesday.

Orders are collected every Thursday from Stretford Sip Club between 5pm and 7pm.

As well as milk, vegetables, eggs and meat products from Dunham Massey are also available, alongside locally produced luxury goods such as brownies, chocolate and super-hot chilli sauce.

For more information visit facebook.com/stretfordfoodassembly. To register visit thefoodassembly.com.