Lumley opens new shopping arcade

Advertisement

The actress said she respected and admired the people of Morpeth

Joanna Lumley, who once played shop-a-holic Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, has opened a new shopping centre in a flood-hit Northumberland town.

The £32m Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth will be officially opened by the actress later.

One of the retailers based there is family-run chocolatier and cake-makers, Oxley's of Morpeth.

The owners were forced out of their former base at Chantry Place when the town was devastated by floods in 2008.

Their new store will also join other local companies Advanced Nutrition and the Jeweller's Guild.

Lumley, best known for her roles in the New Avengers, Sapphire and Steel and Absolutely Fabulous - and more recently for her tireless campaign for Gurkhas' rights - will cut a ribbon to officially open the Sanderson Arcade and will be invited to unveil a special plaque.

Work started on the £32m development last July.

As well as 90,000 sq ft of purpose-built retail space, the development also houses offices, car park and a bus interchange.

In September of last year thousand of properties in Morpeth were damaged when the River Wansbeck broke its banks.