Former Norwich City footballer Iwan Roberts scored a hit with Sheringham shoppers when he turned out to open a new Specsavers store in the town centre.

Eastern Daily Press: Sheringham Specsavers opthalimic director Kevin Osborne demonstrates the store's state-of-the-art eye testing equipment to Norwich City legend Iwan Roberts. Photo: KAREN BETHELLSheringham Specsavers opthalimic director Kevin Osborne demonstrates the store's state-of-the-art eye testing equipment to Norwich City legend Iwan Roberts. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Sports commentator and Eastern Daily Press columnist Mr Roberts, who made 306 appearances and scored 96 goals for the Canaries, was supporting store director Kevin Osborne, whom he met as a teammate at a charity golf match.

'Kevin is a big Norwich fan and I'd got to the stage of having to hold a menu five yards away to read it,' Mr Roberts said. 'I met Kevin, we hit it off straight away and I've worn glasses ever since.'

Eastern Daily Press: Specsavers optical assistant Jade Eglington shows Nigel Harris the range of frames on offer at the company's new Sheringham store. Photo: KAREN BETHELLSpecsavers optical assistant Jade Eglington shows Nigel Harris the range of frames on offer at the company's new Sheringham store. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Mr Osborne who, with business partner Michael Meller, owns Specsavers stores at Fakenham and East Dereham, said he had been looking to branch out into Sheringham for eight years.

'I think the biggest thing for people here is having to travel to Norwich or Fakenham and we will be able to provide affordable eye care and hearing care to Sheringham, Cromer, Holt and all the villages in between.'

Eastern Daily Press: Former Norwich City footballer Iwan Roberts Sheringham Specsavers store with opthalimic director Kevin Osborne. Photo: KAREN BETHELLFormer Norwich City footballer Iwan Roberts Sheringham Specsavers store with opthalimic director Kevin Osborne. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

The new store, in High Street, has a main sales area, as well as three optical testing rooms and an audiology room.

It also boasts a state-of-the-art ocular coherence tomography scanner which can help detect conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

It will be managed by dispensing optometrist Sarah Jane Smith, with a staff team including four optical assistants and an audiologist.

Mr Meller, who has 23 years' experience as an optometrist, will be carrying out eye tests.

Mr Osborne said: 'As always, we want to provide affordable eye and hearing care within the community and, because we bring the best equipment, the best products and the best value, we think we will be an asset to the town.'

Sheringham Chamber of Trade and Commerce secretary Andy Bullen predicted the new store would bring trade to the town without having a negative impact on existing businesses, including long-standing Station Road opticians Roger Lee.

'It is obviously more competition for our other optician,' he said. 'But, in some ways, having that choice can bring more people into town. And although Sheringham has always prided itself on having lots of independent shops, knowing that a big company like Specsavers is prepared to invest here shows they think we have a bright future.'