RAY Barker could be forgiven if he felt a little down in the mouth about retiring after spending over 30 years tending to people's teeth in the same York suburb.

But the popular Acomb dentist, who has nothing but praise for his patients over the past three decades, still managed a bright smile - even while replacement Simon Wilsdon was checking it out.

Dr Barker, 59, who is originally from Blackpool and trained in Manchester, came to York 33 years ago after working in Norway.

He spoke warmly about his time at the Beeches Dental Practice in York Road, saying: "They have been very happy times, with lots of humour."

He said he would never forget one man, to whom he was preparing to give an injection, who took off his belt and started wrapping it round his arm. When asked what he was doing he explained he was a karate expert and was strapping his arm down so he didn't deliver a deadly blow to the dentist if the jab was painful. "Unfortunately, when he stood up his trousers fell down," said Dr Barker.

The work has changed enormously down the years, with general anaesthetics becoming a thing of the past and the focus turning onto prevention rather than treatment. "Dentistry itself is going in the right direction," he said.

Whereas children might have come in with several abscesses 33 years ago now 75 per cent of his young patients had perfect teeth - though three decades ago children in Norway were looking after their teeth the way British youngsters did now.

He added: "I think the people of Acomb and the surrounding villages have been the most wonderful people we have come across. They are very loyal and caring for me and my family."

Dr Barker, who lives in the Wolds with his wife, Sandy, plans to build a workshop and go Christmas shopping in New York in his retirement.

Dr Wilsdon, 34, who is originally from Rochdale, and qualified in Leeds where he now lives before practising in Garforth and Wakefield, was looking forward to the challenge.