A retail park has attracted about 61,000 shoppers - far more than expected - in its first four trading days.

Dalton Park, at Murton, east Durham, which was opened by celebrity Tara Palmer-Tomkinson last Thursday, has drawn crowds of up to 17,000 shoppers a day, said a spokeswoman for the centre.

Overflow car parks were brought into use at the complex, on the landscaped former Murton Colliery spoil heap.

The £50m development, set in 55 acres of parkland, has 75 shops, cafes and restaurants, a children's play area and creche, and 1,200 free parking spaces.

Opening times are 10am to 6pm today, 10am to 8pm tomorrow, and 10am to 6pm on Good Friday and Saturday.

It will be closed on Sunday in line with Easter trading laws, but it will reopen on Monday, from 11am to 5pm.