A Suffolk optician saw off big city competition to be named Independent Practice of the Year at an industry awards ceremony.

Observatory the Opticians, an independent practice based at Exchange Square in Beccles, picked up the award during a glittering ceremony at London’s Hilton Park Lane.

The Optician Awards - this year hosted by impressionist and comedian Jon Culshaw - showcases excellence across every aspect of UK optics.

Jonathan Foreman, managing director of Observatory the Opticians, said: “We are absolutely thrilled and very proud to have been named the UK’s Independent Practice of the Year. Winning this award is a fabulous accolade and a wonderful achievement for a small country practice. To come out above the big city practices is testament to our professional approach, skilled staff and focus on customer care.”

A key consideration for the judges was the level of customer satisfaction and individualised eye care provided. The panel also considered the quality and diversity of the optical products offered.

Mr Foreman, a qualified optician, who lives in Wenhaston near Halesworth, said: “We have a professional group of skilled staff that work hard to provide customers with individualised eye care and a wide variety of products, along with competitive pricing – and for us, these are all minimum required standards for any independent practice. Our customer service is what sets us apart from other practices.

“We take time to get to know our patients, and through regular contact and genuine care, we build strong relationships with them.”