New £340m shopping centre opens

The million square feet extension has cost £340m

The new multi-million pound Westfield shopping centre has opened in Derby city centre.

The £340m extension of the old Eagle Centre has 150 shops and managers hope it could attract an extra seven million shoppers to the city.

Some city residents have criticised the scale of the building and its impact on the skyline.

But developers said the centre, which includes a cinema and food hall, would be a huge boost to the area.

It is the biggest shopping centre to open in England this year.

Some of the local retailers have delivered amazing shop designs John Morgan, chief architect

The official opening will be later in the day with celebrities from the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing taking part.

Chief Architect John Morgan believes the look of the centre will impress shoppers.

"There are lots of glass fronts, it looks very slick," he said.

"There is consistency across the retailers, that's the national retailers and the local retailers as well.

"Some of the local retailers have delivered amazing shop designs."

Concern has already beenraised about the centre taking trade away from the rest of the city.

Several large town centre properties are lying dormant, following the relocation of stores like Marks and Spencer and Debenhams.

But Westfield managers said the extra retail outlets and the increased number of shoppers they would attact would benefit everyone.