AN East Lancashire opticians is to step up home services for customers.

Specsavers, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, has been offering to visit housebound customers and those who are unable to travel to the store.

To date, the Specsavers team has visited 250 people in the Blackburn, Darwen and Burnley areas.

The team at the opticians is to spend a day a week carrying out home visits.

Joanne Harrington, domiciliary eyecare services manager, said: "Without home visits, many people would not be able to have an annual eye test, which could mean serious eye disorders going unchecked."

Dispensing staff will be visiting residential and care homes, sheltered accommodation and the housebound.

Specsavers will visit and test individual patients, rather than only visiting places where they have a minimum number of tests to carry out.

The team will offer the same quality of service that is available at the two Specsavers stores in Blackburn.

Patients over 60 will benefit from free eye tests, and spectacles will be personally delivered and fitted.

The spectacles cost the same as they do in store, and patients who qualify for help towards the cost of specs will be offered a wide range free of charge. Anyone wanting a visit should contact Joanne Harrington on 01254 682504.