Shopping centre to open with show

A light show will be projected onto some shop fronts

A six figure sum is to be spent on the opening of Leicester's new shopping centre, the developers have said.

Highcross Leicester, which has cost an estimated £350m, will have a shopping mall, restaurants and a cinema and is set to start business on 4 September.

The opening will herald 12 hours of celebrations including dancers and a procession.

Developer Hammerson said the centre will put Leicester on the shopping map and create about 2,000 jobs.

Street performers will be followed by a procession of local school children carrying a "silk river".

In the evening, locally designed lanterns will be floated into the air and a light show will be projected on to some of the shop fronts.

Marketing manager Karl Boyce said: "If someone comes down to the Highcross centre anytime on the day of the launch there will be something going on to see.

"We have involved lots of local people in the event because on that day this becomes something for the people of Leicester, rather than our development."