PREPARATION work for Redcar's £26m shopping centre has been inspected by the town's mayor.

Councillor Vilma Collins visited the site for the new Regent Walk development, near Wilton Street, and saw how demolition work is paving the way for the start of the building work.

The development will include a Morrison's supermarket, 23 shops and parking for more than 650 cars.

The scheme is a partnership between developers Teesland, the regional development agency One NorthEast and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Thousands of leaflets are being distributed around the town, advising shoppers of changes to car parking arrangements and how the phased development will be organised over the next 17 months.

Pat Denney, chairman of Redcar Business Association, said: "We are emphasising and reassuring our customers and visitors that Redcar is open for business as usual."

McAlpine contract manager Phil Langton said: "We apologise for the inconvenience caused, but unfortunately it's necessary to get the job off the ground.

"People won't really see any major construction work until October, but there is a lot of preparation to do and a new road to prepare.

"Within six weeks, we will see many buildings flattened and then people will get an idea of the scale of the development."