A PIONEERING vet has retired after half a century at a well-known Hexham practice.

Eric Nelson, of Hadrian Vets, has finally decided to hang up his stethoscope at the age of 73.

But the veteran veterinarian will continue to offer his skills to the practice he has served since 1968, by running one day a week acupuncture clinics.

Eric’s wife, Wendy, who has been practice manager since 2005, has also retired.

The couple have handed over their business, on Dene Avenue, to the Vet Partners group, a collaboration of veterinary practices across the UK.

It will now be run by vets Jenny White and Elizabeth Joseph, who have more than 40 years’ experience between them.

Veterinary nursing assistant Rachel Forsyth and receptionist Celia Lowe will remain in post.

In addition, a new registered veterinary nurse and a kennel assistant have recently been appointed.

Eric, who is best known in the profession as a pioneer of acupuncture, said: “It’s lovely that Hadrian Vets is continuing, as it means the future is secure and the name lives on.

“I’m passing over the reins to a new generation of vets, who are already well-known and trusted by our clients.”

Eric joined the practice, then known as Pickering & Co, in 1968 after graduating from Glasgow Veterinary School.

He became a partner, alongside Jock Pickering, John Brown, David Tordoff, John Scott and Alastair Maclean, and the business became known as Hadrian Vets in the early 1980s.

Some of the North-East’s leading race horse trainers, including Arthur Stephenson, asked Eric to treat their racehorses.

After first using acupuncture to help cows during bad calvings, Eric studied in Japan, China, the USA, Holland, Belgium and Norway to achieve an International Diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture.

He is also passionate about other forms of complementary treatments, including homeopathy and herbal medicine.

Eric, who lives in Stocksfield, added: “There were a lot of sceptics when vets first started doing acupuncture, but now it has become extremely popular in the treatment of animals.

“I’ve retired from owning a practice, but I won’t finish work just yet as I plan to continue doing acupuncture.”