A MANAGER has been appointed for a £43m shopping development.

Rob Gildersleeve has been signed up ahead of the opening of Stockton's Wellington Square Centre, in October.

Mr Gildersleeve joins after five years as operations manager for Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, in Hartlepool, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the centre.

He said: "I have been very impressed in my first few visits, by the rapid rate at which Wellington Square is developing, as well as the overall regeneration of Stockton as a whole"

Wellington Square, which is a joint venture between HBG Properties and Swan Hill Properties, will comprise of 43 retail units and will create 400 full-time jobs.

The first of the shopping outlets, supermarket Lidl and the new KFC drive through fast food outlet and 100 seater restaurant are already open for business.

There is also an 800 space car park, which opened in April.

John Paul Jackson, of Lambert Smith Hampton, managing agents for the development said: "Wellington Square is set to take Stockton into the new millennium as a lively centre with quality retail facilities."