NATIONAL retailers are joining the queue to be included in a multi-million pound shopping development in Redcar.

The Regent Walk Shopping Centre will be next to the High Street, stretching from West Dyke Road to Regent Street, and as far back as the railway.

It will accommodate a Morrisons supermarket, 23 shops and parking for nearly 700 cars.

The scheme involves Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the regional development agency One NorthEast, and Teesland Development Company.

Shoppers will be able to walk in a traffic-free open mall from the car park and the bus stops directly into the High Street, opposite Marks and Spencer, Boots and Woolworths.

Sixteen of the shop units are under offer to national retailers, the majority of which are new to Redcar.

Dr Joan Rees, the council's director of the economy and environment, said: "The scheme will create around 250 jobs during construction, and around 400 jobs in the shops."

The first phase is expected to be completed to allow trading to start before Easter 2002, with the whole of the development operational in time for Christmas 2002.