ALLOA'S Smart Specs is the first county retailer to be awarded Trading Standards' Buy With Confidence accreditation.

The scheme hopes to help customers avoid rogue traders. It provides a list of local businesses, all of whom have been independently checked by staff from Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council's joint Trading Standards Service to ensure they meet with the scheme's rules.

Councillor Donald Balsillie, convener of the Enterprise and Environment Committee, said, "Smart Specs went through a rigorous investigation by our Trading Standards and came out with flying colours. I hope that they will encourage many more retailers to follow in their footsteps." Anne-Marie Macklin, owner of Smart Specs Optical Dispensary, added, "We were very pleased to be the first retailer in the area to be accredited following a thorough audit of our business practices and contact being made independently by Trading Standards with several of our customers.

"Since we opened in the High Street in June 2011, we have strived to provide the highest level of customer care.

"The Buy With Confidence scheme will enhance our policy of providing superb quality and vast savings on spectacles when customers present their up-to-date optician prescription."