Wiveliscombe GP Dr John Rees formally retired on Friday.

Dr Rees, 65, was presented with a bicycle by friends and colleagues at the town's Community Centre.

Born and bred in Cardiff, he trained at Cambridge and St Thomas's Hospital, London, practising medicine for three years in Leicester, before coming to Wiveliscombe in 1969.

He considers himself very lucky to have been given the opportunity to live and work in rural Somerset.

"I have enjoyed every minute of it," he said. "It's a nice part of the country to live and a wonderful group of patients - not too demanding and usually very appreciative of what you do for them.

"Some have become friends rather than patients."

Dr Rees also played rugby for Wiveliscombe in the '70s and still runs and cycles to keep fit. And he hopes to have more free time to watch his old team now he's retired.

The doctor went part-time as a GP five years ago and officially retired in June, last year, but took his last surgery at the end of September.

'Retirement' finds him keeping busy, working two to two-and-a-half days a week, examining people on behalf of the Benefits and Veterans' Agencies.

But Dr Rees said: "It's not quite as pressured as general practice."