DESPITE the wintry conditions there was some good news with copies of the Times continuing to arrive on the doormats of readers on time last week —thanks to local newsagents and the determination of paperboys and girls.

In freezing conditions in the early hours over the past few weeks there have been no hold-ups of deliveries in Tavistock of the Times and other newspapers and magazines and there were compliments from grateful customers to the newsagents and their staff for their efforts.

Pillars newsagents in Duke Street has hundreds of customers around Tavistock and Whitchurch who order papers for delivery everyday.

With more than 50 rounds to organise — including 43 boys and girls, delivery man Adam Holland and two drivers — it is a sizeable operation, managed by Susan Franks. But despite the ice and snow, deliveries have continued on time.

Judith Lake, an assistant at Pillars, who herself walked in and back the three miles from Mill Hill to work, on one of the worse days of the bad weather, told the Times: 'All our boys and girls and delivery staff have done a great job, so much that many of our customers have said thank you. They have done very well.'

Customers Jane and Mike Frampton, of Courtlands, even gave staff a card to show their appreciation.

Adam Holland, from Pillars, added: 'During the ten years I have worked for Pillars this is the most snow I've seen. I would like to say a big thank you to all those boys and girls who made the effort to deliver there papers in the snow.'

Lyn Roberts, general manager of the Times, said: 'We give our sincere thanks to everybody involved in getting our papers delivered to our readers.

'It is very important that the paper gets out each week on time so that our readers are kept up to date with the latest local news and our advertisers receive the coverage they expect to promote their products and services.'