Parsons' top-score was 193 versus West Indies in 2000

Veteran Somerset all-rounder Keith Parsons has announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

Parsons, 35, has played for the county since 1992 but has not represented the first team this season.

"There comes a time when your body tells you it's time to pack in professional sport," Parsons told the club's website.

"I worked as hard as I have ever done on my fitness last winter but little niggles keep occurring."

Parsons hopes to continue playing for Cornwall in the Minor Counties Championship next summer.

"I'm told that Sir Ian Botham and myself are the only two players to have scored over 5,000 runs and taken more than 100 wickets for Somerset in both four-day and one-day cricket, which makes me very proud," Parsons added.

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose paid tribute to a player who was man-of-the-match when Somerset beat Leicestershire to win the C&G Trophy in 2001.

"It's always sad when a player retires, particularly when he has been a great servant to a club, as Keith has been to Somerset," said Rose.

"He was a local product and made the people of Taunton very proud of him. We wish him nothing but the best for the future."