'DPD Dave' will be making his final delivery rounds in the Bollington and Rainow areas next week after 15 years delivering parcels and smiles to residents.

Dave Parrish, 48, as he is otherwise known, has struck up quite a relationship with his customers who have expressed their sadness to see him move onto to a new area.

When he announced that he would no longer be delivering in the area on a Bollington Facebook group, hundreds of people liked and commented to pay tribute to the "best delivery driver by far".

One resident commented: "We will certainly miss you! All the very best and good luck for your future. With extra special thanks for all you have done for us x."

Another wrote: "Dave we wish you all the best. Always enjoyed seeing you when you delivered our sons parcel to Highfield Road (we are no longer there). Everyone knows DPD dave. We will all miss you. Take care. We clap for you."

Most of the residents who commented were wishing him well in the future and expressed how much they will miss him doing his rounds.

Dave, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, told Nub News that he's going to miss the area "that I've got to know like the back of my hand."

Asked why the people in the area had taken to him, Dave replied: "I don't know really, it's just when I'm delivering, I take a bit of time out to chat to people when I'm out on a delivery."

Residents clearly thought he went the extra mile, with one commenting: "The business I work for moved from Bolly 3 years ago and can certainly say no other DPD driver we've had since comes anywhere near the service we had from you. All the best for the future."

Another user echoed this sentiment: "Many thanks for all your help over the years. You always have a smile on your face, hopefully we have given you something to smile at also."

On how he got to know the area so well, Dave said: "As the years have gone by, I used to deliver to a bigger area, in places like Prestbury as well and up round by the hospital, but as the business has got busier and the areas have reduced, I've always kept Bollington on."

He said it was only a few years ago that he realised he had gained fans in the area. "I was just delivering to the paper shop, I think it was, and the woman said to me, 'oh you're all over the Bollington Facebook group'.

"At the time I never thought anything of it because I wasn't on the group and she said, ' you need to go on and see all the lovely comments you're getting'. That's how it all started."

Asked how the reaction from residents made him feel, Dave humbly said: "Basically, I just thought I was doing my job, but it does make me feel appreciated and glad I'm doing what I'm doing for them."

DPD Dave joined the delivery firm 18 years ago but says he's never delivered to a community like Bollington. "Whether its because it's classed as a little village and its own community, they all seem to know each other and they've all gotten to know me over the years."

While he is moving onto a new delivery route, DPD Dave hopes to remain part of the community.

He said: "I just think it's a lovely place and the people are really friendly. I consider a lot of them as friends now. I'll definitely stay in the Facebook group and pop over when there's a market day on and meet up with people again."