TRIBUTES have been paid to a milkman who was killed when his van crashed into a viaduct in WGC, writes Simon Wesson.

Dairy Crest employee Andy Ellis died after the accident which happened at Digswell Viaduct, on the A1000 Bessemer Road, at 10.30pm on Tuesday last week.

Colleagues at the Homestead Lane dairy where Andy was based have paid their respects to the 43-year-old.

A spokeswoman said: “The company and particularly his colleagues at WGC are deeply saddened by this news and we offer our condolences and support to Andrew’s family.”

The Hitchin man joined Dairy Crest (formerly Bancroft Dairies) in 1986, following his father’s footsteps.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Yvonne, three children Connor, Callum and Jamie; his sister Sue, brother-in-law Martin, brother Tony and three half-sisters Christine, Tricia and Lesley.

Yvonne, who married Andy in 1991, said: “He was very popular in the local area and some of his customers who didn’t even like milk were known to continue receiving milk from Andy just because they liked him so much!

“He worked extremely hard and really only ever had one day off a week.

“He was also dedicated to his customers and was known to be out in all weathers. Even in the heavy snow last February, Andy was out making sure his customers had their milk.”

She added: “Andy was my world and this tragic accident has left a big hole in our lives and he will be so deeply missed.”

The funeral will be held at noon on Tuesday, November 24, at the Vale Crematorium in Luton. The hearse is due to leave his home in Chaucer Way at 11.15am.

Donations should be made to the Garden House Hospice, Letchworth, in memory of his mother Jean Ellis.