Dame Mary shops in disguise

Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins has admitted that on occasions she poses as a mystery shopper in the multiple's outlets to ensure customer service standards are maintained.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper last week she said: 'I just keep a little eye on things. I have different wigs and put glasses on. I go in - not in a tracksuit, exactly, but dressed down with a carrier bag and any old pair of glasses. They have become a bit wise to it over the years. But I have this theory that people over 60 are invisible.'

Dame Mary acknowledged that the high street optical market was becoming more competitive. Specsavers faced the combined threat of the supermarkets and the impact of the recent merger of Boots Opticians and Dollond & Aitchison.