A FAMILY which have been going to the same town optician for nearly a century have officially launched its new branch.

Prentice Howarth, 81, and her daughters Elaine Howarth, 62, and Lesley Lyons, 60, performed the honours at Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care, at Knowsley Street

The family ties with Scrivens go back almost a century, when Prentice’s mother, Ellen Tomney, used the branch as a child, when was then called Stokes Opticians. She died in 2016 aged 104.

Prentice’s grandsons William Lyons 28, and Alexander Lyons 26, are the latest generation of the family to attend the branch,

Manager Sarah Longworth said: “We’re proud of our new look store and wanted to mark its opening in style.

“We have looked after the eye care of Prentice’s mother and her family for many years and it’s always a highlight when they visit. They were an obvious choice to launch the branch.”

Prentice said: “It is such an honour to be invited to launch the new branch. The staff are like our extended family, so we were only too happy to accept.

“We’ve been tracking the store’s progress and are impressed with the new layout and the range on display; I can’t wait to try on some of the new styles. My mother would have loved it too and would have definitely enjoyed the limelight!”

Scrivens has relocated from 18 Knowsley Street and has benefited from the largest branch investment ever undertaken by the business featuring the latest digital eye examination equipment..

Pictured - Prentice Howarth (centre) and her daughters Elaine Howarth and Lesley Lyons launch Scrivens Bolton.