A DUDLEY opticians has launched a healthy living scheme.

Specsavers in Castle Street now offers a range of free services, including help with smoking cessation, alcohol screening and NHS health checks - which can spot early signs of conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Similar to the service provided by pharmacists, the store, which is now an accredited Healthy Living Opticians, will run clinics throughout the week, making it easier for people living and working in the town to seek advice at times convenient for them.

The scheme was unveiled on Friday (March 23) by Dudley North MP Ian Austin and Dudley's deputy mayor, Councillor Alan Taylor and his wife Winifred.

Store director, Gurdeep Dosanjh, said: "Regular sight tests can often uncover other health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, so we regularly direct customers to their GP or hospital where they can get more advice.

"Becoming a Healthy Living Optician under this scheme means we can now provide expert support and advice around a host of common health issues.

"Since we first opened our doors in the eighties, we’ve become a valued and trusted part of the community and we hope to build on that by promoting healthy living as a lifestyle choice to support our customers’ well-being."

He continued: "As part of our accreditation we can provide customers with support and advice on quitting smoking, as well as offering alcohol screening.

"Many people have trouble quitting smoking, so it really helps to have somebody there to support you along the way.

"People aged between 40 and 74 are entitled to a free NHS health check, which many people will naturally visit their GP for. But as this is something we now provide, we’ll be helping to take a little pressure off the NHS as well as making it more convenient for customers to get that vital check-up."

To find out more about the services on offer, or to book an appointment, call 01384 214851.