A SHOPPING precinct re-opens this week after a £2.5m face-lift which aims to breath new life into a town centre.

The long-awaited refurbishment of The Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, will be officially unveiled tomorrow.

The mall has been renovated by supermarket chain Asda, which moved to the outskirts of the town last year.

Asda spent almost £20m relocating to a purpose built, 40,000 sq ft store on the site of the former Wilson's Forge, in South Church Road.

The scheme is the first major refit of the centre since it was built in the early Eighties.

It is hoped that it will revitalise the north end of the town, where many traders say their businesses have suffered the loss of a major food outlet in the centre.

Town MP Derek Foster said: "It is a magnificent transformation which will greatly enhance the viability and vitality of the town."

Asda's property communications manager, Simon Leonard, said: "The Newgate Centre has been a firm favourite with visitors to Bishop Auckland for two decades, but it was in need of a revamp.

"It looks and feels much better now, it is attractive, bright and modern so much more inviting for shoppers and a more pleasant entrance to the town.

"The bulky travelators have been replaced by modern lifts, there are new glass entrances, a canopy at the front and CCTV, which improves customer safety in the mall and for the car park."

Town centre manager Ken Wilson said: "It is a significant development for the town and will hopefully create a lot of interest at the north end of Bishop Auckland."

As part of the refurbishment, the old Asda unit has been refitted and homes and gardens chain Wilkinson's is to open in its place in August.

Asda is one of dozens of businesses backing The Northern Echo and Wear Valley Advertiser's Shopping for a Future campaign, launched to support town centre retailers.

Tomorrow's events will start with an official ribbon-cutting at 10.15am, followed by live music and family entertainment.