A RUNCORN opticians is investing £400,000 in a major expansion to improve community health care.

Specsavers is doubling the size of its store to help detect and manage minor eye conditions and offer dedicated diabetic screening.

The opticians is offering additional eye health services at Runcorn Shopping Centre on behalf of the NHS.

They say increasing the current five consulting rooms to nine means people will not have to wait for a GP or hospital appointment.

Store director Chris Graham said: “This expansion is a proud milestone for our team and has only been made possible by the loyal support of the Runcorn community over the last 22 years.

“We are hugely excited about these development plans which have seen us completely take over the unit adjacent to our store.

“This investment represents our commitment to new and existing customers in the town and providing more accessible services than ever before.”

Anyone experiencing pain, discomfort, redness, sudden changes or flashes of light in their vision among other symptoms can access these services.

The plans also include a bespoke consulting room dedicated entirely to an enhanced seven days a week hearing service, supported by a team of trained audiologists.

Mr Graham added: “We are proud to take our clinical expertise a stage further and enhance the level of care we can offer people in Runcorn with the added benefit of helping to reduce the pressure on our local GP surgeries and other NHS services.

“We look forward to delivering the benefits of our expanded services later this year and welcoming even more customers through our doors.”

The new improved Runcorn store is due to open in autumn 2016.