A DIRECTOR at a Widnes opticians, who has overseen 750,000 eye tests and dispensed more than one million pairs of glasses, is celebrating 35 years of service.

Dispensing director, Angela Perls, who runs Specsavers Widnes alongside retail director and her own daughter, Charlotte Stokes, and ophthalmic optician Mark Levi, started her Specsavers career in 1988 when she was part of the of the original Specsavers Widnes team.

Since cutting the ribbon 35 years ago, Angela has worked with hundreds of team members, some of whom have gone on to become fully qualified opticians and store partners with Specsavers themselves.

Angela’s anniversary at the store was commemorated by a visit from Specsavers founder, Dame Mary Perkins, who presented Angela with a handcrafted necklace to thank her for her service.

Angela said: "Someone once said "Should've gone to Specsavers" well I did, 35 years ago and I'm still here!

"What an amazing 35 years it's been working within the Specsavers family. I've seen so much change in Specsavers and in Widnes, so much so that I could write an entire book on all that I've experienced. I'm looking forward to the next chapter."

Specsavers retail director, Charlotte Stokes added: "We’re delighted to be able to celebrate Angela, honour such a significant milestone and say a huge thank you for all she does for our customers, our people and our business. It’s a privilege to have her as an integral part of the team.

"I'm so lucky to be able to work alongside my mum and learn so much from her. I know I've got big shoes to fill when she retires and I hope I can build upon her success."