A loyal dental nurse has retired from an established dental practice in Ilkley after 40 years of service.

Sue Pitt completed her last working day at Acorn Villas Dental Practice on May 1, after spending more than four decades of her career at the practice, based on The Grove.

Mrs Pitt, who grew up in Otley, joined the team in 1974 at the age of 16, is now the longest-serving dental nurse ever to have worked at the practice, which was established in 1903.

Having begun her role alongside Acorn Villas’ former dentist, Dr Alan Wright, Mrs Pitt has since been working with Dr Len Anderson, who joined the practice in 1981.

She said: “I’d like to thank all of our patients for their loyalty and friendship over the years. I will miss them greatly and have been truly overwhelmed by their kind words upon hearing the news of my retirement. I feel very privileged to have cared for many generations of the same families over the past 40 years, and I’d like to thank the whole team at Acorn Villas for their fantastic support throughout my career.”

Dr Anderson, said: “Sue is a very popular member of the team, extremely friendly and efficient, and she will be greatly missed by all of us and our patients. We all wish her a well-deserved long, happy and healthy retirement, to spend more time with her family and grandchildren, and to pursue her hobbies and interests."