Mixed fortunes for new shopping centre

Some shops in the centre had to close due to poor sales

A multi-million pound shopping centre celebrates its first birthday after a year of mixed fortunes.

Festival Place in Basingstoke, Hampshire, was hailed as a much-needed improvement to the town centre when it opened.

Some 18 million shoppers visited the town centre in the last year, compared with 14 million the year before.

But some stores have closed, including the Food Market which sold fresh and organic goods.

The town's chamber of trade says it believes the shopping centre has had a reasonable start, but is clear that a real push forward is now required.

The owners of the shopping centre say restaurants, bars and the cinema are thriving - with other businesses waiting to move in.