Four members of staff at a Penrith dental practice are celebrating a combined 100 years of service.

Karon Kirkland, business manager at Ghyllmount Dental, has clocked up 30 years, while practice principal John Lewis and receptionist Helen Brown celebrate 25 years each and dentist Shiona Anderton is in her 20th year at the practice.

The practice, at Penrith Business Park, has won several awards and deals with hundreds of patients a year.

Karon started work at the practice when it was based in Little Dockray in 1989, with Keith Sharp and Bob Nixon.

When Mr Sharp retired, the practice relocated to Brunswick Square and Mr Nixon took it over from retiring dentist Howcroft Walton.

In 1994, John joined as associate dentist and Helen as a dental nurse. Shiona joined as associate dentist in 1999. John bought the practice in 2007.

Its Brunswick Square premises were no longer fit for purpose, so it moved to the business park and was renamed as Ghyllmount Dental.

John said: “Throughout the many changes over the years it is very satisfying and heart warming to see that the long term loyalty of the staff has helped us grow and become the outstanding practice we are today.

“Many thanks go to all our team for their hard work and their efforts to make a visit to Ghyllmount the best it can be each day.

“It is so nice to welcome new patients to the practice but it is wonderful to have patients who have been with us since the start too.

“Of course, special thanks must go to all our fabulous patients for their continued loyalty.”