A POPULAR Port dentist is retiring after 30 years of making patients smile.

Susan Barclay, who has treated generations of families at Lynton House Dental Practice, says she will be sad to hang up her drill for the final time on Friday.

The 55-year-old associate dentist has been overwhelmed by the kind cards and gifts she has received from her patients at the Brown Street practice.

Susan said: "The patients have been so kind and I will miss them.

"But there comes a time to retire and the time has come for me."

Susan says she has enjoyed working in such a friendly practice.

She told the Tele: "It's the patients who make it.

"They have been so nice to me.

"I've been here for so long that I've sometimes treated three generations of the same family which is lovely."

Susan was keen to welcome her replacement Jane Kirkwood to the practice.

She said: "I'm delighted it's Jane, she will be the perfect person as the practice needs new blood.

"I hope she will be as happy here as I have been."

Jane, 31, said: "It's a bit daunting to step into someone's shoes after 30 years but it's a really fantastic practice and I've already had a card from a patient to welcome me which I didn't expect, it was lovely.

"I qualified in 2016 so being newly qualified, it's good to settle somewhere and get to know the patients."

Meanwhile Susan, who has a daughter Julia, 21, and a son Patrick, 16, is looking forward to having a bit more time on her hands.

She said: "I row and play badminton but I plan on relaxing a bit more and doing some gardening."