Dairy owner praised | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A DAIRY owner in Hoon Hay who was giving away stock to his valued customers on Saturday morning has been inundated with thanks and flowers from the community.

Suresh Patel of P & P Dairy opened his shop early to give away milk and sell batteries below cost.

The dairy had run out of stock by 8am - its normal opening time.

Mr Patel said yesterday he had had more than 800 customers a day since the earthquake.

"I've been restocking every few hours, I think people are just appreciating that I have bread, milk and batteries," he said.

"I gave away stuff to those customers I knew. I didn't have an eftpos machine and being in the community for the past 20 years, I know my customers very well."

He said most customers had come back and paid him for the stock, and some had also returned with flowers.

"I think everyone was just so thankful I helped them even though they couldn't pay me, but it's what you do - you don't leave people without the necessities."

Mr Patel said he had given milk to the Linwood and Burnside welfare centres as well.