Ealing bomb disrupts practices

A number of London optical practices lost several daysÕ trading this week as a result of last ThursdayÕs bomb blast.
The bomb, believed to have been planted by an Irish terrorist group, went off in Ealing Broadway shortly before midnight on August 2.
The Eye Zone in New Broadway was among the affected practices. It had to close on Friday and Saturday, two of its busiest trading days, because it was enclosed within the large area cordoned off by police.
Director Alka Turner said: ÔWe are not covered for terrorism, so it was fortunate that we were too far from the blast for any damage. It has been rough getting people back into the practice because some patients do not live in the local area and are not sure if we are open. That has affected business, as well as the days we were closed.Õ
David Clulow Opticians was not able to re-open until Tuesday morning. It is situated in the Ealing Broadway Centre, which the police closed immediately for security reasons and because the water main outside was damaged by the blast.
The practice is at the back of the centre so it was not flooded.
ÔWe have lost Friday, Saturday, Sunday and MondayÕs trading,Õ said business development director Richard Peck. ÔIt is frustrating, but thankfully no one was hurt. We are confident there will be no problem getting our patients back into the practice.Õ
The Vision Express store in the centre was not as lucky. It is still closed due to flood damage. A spokeswoman said: ÔWe are doing all we can to re-open the store as quickly as possible.Õ