MEET the nurses who are a guiding light' for former bobby Ronald Knott and help keep a smile on his face.

Mr Knott of Easton, Portland, has been singing the praises of the nursing staff who have been caring for him for the last four months and continue to do so.

The retired policeman and former cancer sufferer says they have been a guiding light and inspiration' for him.

Mr Knott was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum in May and after a successful operation at Dorset County Hospital to remove the cancerous area, is now a permanent colostomy user.

Following his recuperation at Portland Community Hospital and home-care from Weymouth and Portland district nurses, Mr Knott, 72, now attends Royal Manor Health Centre daily.

He said: "All the nursing staff were the kindest and most caring people and made my predicament worth bearing, their professionalism was excellent and bedside manner was of the highest.

"I have attended the Royal Manor clinic for three weeks on a daily basis and I cannot state strongly enough how I have been cared for by the practice nurse, Gill Gates, at Tophill.

"Gill has been my guiding light and inspiration, she has raised my spirits to a higher level and made me feel life is worth living.

"I am greeted each session with a beautiful smile and reassuring, very professional manner as I walk into the treatment room. It's as though a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders, she makes my visits a pleasure rather than a chore."

He added: "They can't accept any remuneration so through the Dorset Echo I would like to tell all of the nursing staff how grateful and humble I feel."

Practice nurse Gill said: "It is lovely to feel we're appreciated but we don't like shouting about it ourselves, it's our job, that's what nurses do.

"We're just part of the jigsaw really, we're a team doing nursing care now but Ron received a lot of care from other nurses prior to us. But it is good to get such positive feedback and we're grateful for his thanks."

While nurses at the Royal Manor Health Centre cannot receive remuneration, the centre does have a medical equipment fund which people can donate to.

Anyone wishing to find out more can call 01305 820422.