AN ASPIRING surgeon has opened a new ‘one stop shop’ in Kendal focusing on all things feet.

Zoe Wilson is the woman behind Z.W. Foot & Ankle, which offers everything from routine podiatry care, biomechanical assessment and specialist footwear.

Miss Wilson, 25, graduated from the University of Salford three years ago and decided that she wanted to set up her own business.

“There are chiropodists and podiatries in Kendal but because I specialise in biomechanics it was a chance to create a whole service that I did not feel was being offered in Kendal,” Miss Wilson, who is from Coniston, explained.

Routine care might include dealing with a callus, corn, verrucae treatment, hard skin or wax treatments.

Biomechanics refers to the way that a person’s lower limbs work and an assessment will check for abnormalities and possible causes of pain in the foot, ankle, knee and back.

Miss Wilson, who is currently studying for a Master’s degree as well as volunteering at Blackpool Hospital, was inspired to enter the field of podiatry by her own experience.

“When I was younger I had problems with my own feet,” she said, explaining she played a lot of sport. When I was 14 I went to see a podiatrist and he made me some insoles and they just took all my pain away.

“As a younger person you do not really forget experiences like that.”

And Miss Wilson’s own research has just won her the ‘People’s Poster Prize’ at a College of Podiatry conference, beating more than 100 other entries.

She explained that a great ‘mix’ of people were utilising her services, including those on their feet for long periods of time, sportspeople, children and ‘just the general public’.

Footwear, she said, can have a huge impact on overall foot health which is why she offers trainer brands that are designed to support a person’s foot.

“I get so many people with shoe problems,” she said.

“If they just improve their footwear their mobility is significantly improved.”

Miss Wilson, whose mum Shelagh owns Happy Feet on Blackhall Yard, hopes in the future she will be able to employ other podiatries to work in the shop and clinic.