AN optician is celebrating being at the helm of Chippenham's last independent traders for 40 years.

Keith Pearce joined Brignalls Opticians on New Road in 1978, where he went into partnership with the original owner and four decades on, he and his wife Claire are still doing the job they love.

"It has been absolutely fantastic," the 65-year-old said. "We have got lovely patients, lovely staff and it is a fantastic place to work so I feel very privileged.

"We are having a day where we are going to put some frames out on the floor, which we don't normally have out, and invite our customers over for some refreshments and a prize draw at the beginning of March - we won't be doing anything extravagant to celebrate though!"

Mr Pearce, who has also been a governor at Sheldon School and served on local optical committees, said his 40 years of joy was down to the support he has received from the town over the years.

"I want to thank all the patients over the years that we have helped to look after, it has been an absolute joy. We're certainly one of the last remaining independent opticians in Wiltshire and it's nice to be able to be the master of our own destiny."