ON August 27, 1992, crowds gathered outside a centre that was to dramatically alter the experience of shopping in Darlington.

From its two main entrances, the Cornmill Centre looks like a small mall - but that impression belies the spacious nature of its interior.

Recalling the opening day, centre manager Albion Small said: "It was like a football match, people just running towards the doors. It was unbelievable. Because it had been so long in construction, I don't know what people were expecting. It was the first big shopping centre in Darlington."

Mr Small, who was also responsible for the launch of Newcastle's Eldon Gardens in 1989, said: "People visiting the Cornmill for the first time are amazed at how big it is."

Despite the size, enhanced by the rising malls which allow a downstairs section to the centre, the lower floor has long been under-used, until the Cornmill was bought last year by the Rachel Charitable Trust.

Only 33 per cent of the total visitors came through the lower doors. That figure has risen to 38 per cent since the introduction of the Au Naturale and Home and Gift stores last year.

Their popularity has impacted on Toymaster nearby, which had a particularly good year last year.

Mr Small says: "It is very, very exciting for me to see, after nine years of comparative inactivity downstairs, that things are happening. It is all to do with our new owners."

Work is also under way to replace a garden area with a performance area, due to open with a talent show next month, and several kiosks.

It is not just downstairs where things are happening. As well as major retailers including WH Smith, the Cornmill brought in music company HMV last year among a string of new tenants.

All but one or two of the original stores are still there, including Our Price, the first big music retailer in the town.

However, WH Smith is a good example of how the Cornmill has improved trade. The chain moved from a two-storey unit in Northgate to one of the prime sites in the centre.

Manager Charles Groves said: "We are probably in one of the best locations within the centre and the town. We take more money in Darlington than we take in some of the larger towns."

With two new tenants due to start shopfitting soon, Dr and Herb and communications accessory firm Ace Phones, only four units remain empty.

A new website is on the way to help attract shoppers and companies to the centre.

The number of visitors has risen steadily until there are just under seven million people a year coming through the doors compared with about six million in the first year.

The trust which owns the centre has plans for the future.

Plans are in the pipeline to overhaul the centre's 250 space car park in Crown Street, possibly with a new tier to increase capacity.

The trust has also bought the First Freeze building opposite, providing the potential for a walkway to the centre