Opening date set for £350m centre

The redeveloped Shires centre is to open in the autumn

Developers say a £350m revamp of a shopping centre in Leicester city centre will be unveiled in the autumn.

The Shires centre, which will be renamed as Highcross Leicester, will reopen on 4 September.

The development will include more than 100 shops, cafes, restaurants, a multiplex cinema and 120 apartments.

Barry Pritchard, the city's development manager, confirmed current resurfacing work around the centre will also be completed by September.

He said: "There is still a lot of work going on but we are going to complete in time for the opening.

"We are confident about that. We have worked very hard with the developers at Highcross. We're working with the contractors, our colleagues at the city council and other traders to make sure that it all gets delivered on time.

"We want the whole of the city centre to reflect what's happening in Highcross," he said.