A DARLINGTON shopping centre will start Sunday opening from this weekend.

The Queen Street Shopping Centre will be open seven days a week after its new manager decided to extend the opening.

Denise Jeffery, who started as manager last August, took the steps following a similar successful scheme in the run-up to Christmas.

The centre is traditionally open on Sundays before Christmas, but last year Mrs Jeffrey extended it for another two weeks. Not all the shops will be open.

Mrs Jeffrey said: "I think we have to get up to the 21st Century, so we are opening on Sunday for the first time.

"It has been a bit of a bone of contention. Some of the independents want the day off and I can understand that.

"But the big boys want to trade seven days, because Sunday is the next Saturday."

The centre will be open from 11am to 4pm on Sundays.