EARLY risers see them everywhere - the youngsters helping milkmen with the doorstep deliveries.

But come September, this willing workforce gets the sack - because of a new by-law, introduced by councils in Lancashire, that says delivering milk is something school-age youngsters must not do.

It is part of a parcel of 14 jobs from which the regulation bans under-16s - including working in nightclubs, slaughterhouses or on fairgrounds.

But where is the harm in young people delivering milk - as they have done for generations?

Not surprisingly, the inspiration for this by-law ban is that fount of daft directives and autocratic absurdity - the European bureaucrats of Brussels.

Yet, why are our councils slavishly doing their bidding?

There might be lots of sense in preventing young people working in places like nightclubs or fairgrounds, but none in making the milk round a no-go zone for them.

It's a job that teaches them many responsibilities - of punctuality, honesty and dealing with the public and of earning their keep.

How can that be bad or dangerous?

Our councils should back off - no matter what barmy Brussels says.

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