ST Germans GP Dr Mike Erith who has been practising in the village for the past 25 years has announced that he is to retire from August 11.

Dr Erith, who runs his practice single-handedly, has said his decision has been brought on by rising paperwork and bureaucracy, and the fact that keeping up standards of caring is becoming increasingly demanding.

Dr Erith, 53, said: 'I felt I was in a position where I either had to let standards slip, or get out. It was getting very stressful.'

He said he was sad to give up the practice and praised his staff for being brilliant, and said his patients had always been very good.

His decision has been taken in the context of a national problem which has been highlighted by a BMA (British Medical Association) vote which 22,380 GPs across Britain responded to. Of these, 86% said that they would consider resigning.

The deputy chairman of the BMA's GPs committee said the result showed the depth of 'disenchantment, despair and disillusionment' that GPs throughout the UK are experiencing.

Dr Erith, who has been on sick leave since November because of rising stress placed upon him in the last few years, said that if all the hours he had worked on-call were taken into consideration he would already have worked for 85 years (if it is accepted that most work a 36-hour week).

He has l,500 patients in Downderry and St Germans, and said it appeared to him that the Government was doing its best to phase out single-handed practices, which has not helped his situation.

He explained: 'I could see no prospect of things improving.'

Dr Erith said he will now be concentrating on spending time with his family, and enjoying his running.

A keen athlete he would like to concentrate on coaching runners and giving advice on exercise and general fitness.

He said: 'I know people see me out running and think that I seem fit and healthy, which I am.

'But I know that if I returned to the practice I would very soon be back at square one. The stress and the bureaucracy would not have improved.'

He said the practice will be advertised through the health authority, and will be taken over by another doctor or practice.

He said there will be continuity of care.