The Express Dairy depot is to close at the end of this month, after two decades in Borehamwood.

The decision, announced to employees last week, came five months after £100,000 of damage was caused at the Theobald Street depot, when arsonists set fire to four milk floats.

According to a company spokesman, the announcement followed a review of doorstep depots in the southern region.

She said three of the 32-strong workforce are expected to be made redundant when the depot closes.

None of the 22 milkmen will lose their jobs, but instead will operate from depots in Watford, Kingsbury and Welwyn Garden City, where there are better facilities.

The remaining seven employees are expected to be employed at other depots in the area.

The spokeswoman added: "Customers will not be affected. Their milk will still be delivered from another depot."

Milkmen delivering to Borehamwood, half of whom operate as franchises, will have to travel further to make their deliveries, but the spokeswoman said some had diesel-powered vehicles, as opposed to slow-moving floats, and that some of those with floats began their journeys in the middle of the night, when there was not much traffic.

The Borehamwood depot has served as a base for milk deliveries, with facilities for cold-storage and the re-charging of floats. There are also administrative staff and a depot manager.