Pictured:  Optician Gurjit Hayer, who has just joined Colin Lee Opticians, with dispensing and contact lens optician, Phil Cross, who are both working at the Aldridge branch

An Aldridge opticians practice has seen business grow since moving to bigger premises, and has taken on extra staff to cope with the rise in demand for eye tests.

Optician Gurgit Hayer, who comes from Walsall, has joined Colin Lee Opticians in Aldridge, at the firm's new base in Aldridge.

The company, which has seven practices in the West Midlands and Staffordshire, moved its head office in September, to much larger, neighbouring premises in Anchor Parade.

The new base is three times larger than the previous one, and purpose-designed for the business, with new consulting rooms, and a chance to display a far larger range of frames.

Mr Hayer, who is 43, has worked as an optometrist for more than 20 years, both with national companies and independent practices, so brings a wealth of experience with him.

Director Clive Marchant explained that Mr Hayer is currently testing eyes one day a week at Aldridge, alongside existing staff, and staff from other practices have also been drafted in to help cope with the rise in demand for eye tests since the move.

Dispensing and contact lens optician Phil Cross, who works at Colin Lee's Tamworth practice, is also helping out at Aldridge, running the contact lens service.

"We have seen a rise of just over 15 per cent in the number of patients coming in to book eye tests since the move, and now that we have all three consulting rooms in use, we can accommodate even more and hope to see the figure continue to rise," said Mr Marchant.

"We have also doubled the number of hearing clinics we run, so we are delighted to be able to offer an even more convenient, efficient service to our patients."

Besides the Aldridge practice, the business also has branches in Lichfield, Burntwood, Tamworth, Rugeley, Great Barr and Ward End.