A BLACKBURN optician has landed a national title for his skills at photographing eyes.

Philip Jones, of Revidge, Blackburn, has run Philip Jones Opticians, in Carnforth, for five years. In 2004 the independent practice scooped the title of "New Optician of the Year," an accolade from Optician magazine.

Now he has been handed the first prize in the publication's Photographic Skill category after submitting a portfolio of images.

Mr Jones has recently invested in equipment including a camera, which enables the optometrist to see special clear images that are viewed on a computer monitor.

He said: "I'm delighted to be a winner, but there is a much more serious aspect to the photography.

"It enables me to see the eye in great detail, which is now an essential tool in spotting the early signs of disease.

"Having access to this information so early means I am able to refer patients more efficiently and in the most extreme - but not uncommon - cases, lives can be saved as a result."