MP Anne Main visited a St Albans pharmacy this morning to formally open its new hearing clinic.

The Nash Pharmacy, next to Waitrose supermarket in Mayne Avenue, has just started offering free hearing tests and consultations with its full-time audiologist Rahim Mitha.

Her visit was arranged by the St Albans-based National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which is keen to encourage its members to offer more services and to boost their perception as general health clinics.

Mrs Main told the Review: "I had no idea how many services pharmacies like this one now offer.

"It's not just hearing tests - you can also come here for a chlamydia test, blood pressure monitoring or a medicine use review.

"It's so much easier and more convenient than having to make an appointment with a GP.

"There's a great deal that can be done for hearing loss now.

"I think there will be a revolution in the use of hearing aids, just as there was with glasses ten or 20 years ago."

John Turk, chief executive of NPA, which has an office next to The Cock pub in St Peter's Street, said: "We want our members to offer more services to the public, and this one is really leading the way.

"They also do flu vaccinations - they did all our staff."

Amin Bandali, a director of the pharmacy chain which also has branches in Chiswell Green and Hemel Hempstead, said: "We have been here 32 years so our roots in the community are really strong.

"We have seen children grow into parents, and parebts become grandparents.

"We asked our customers what we could do for them, and this was something quite a few people wanted.

"We are really pleased to have Rahim with us."