MO MOWLAM returned to her old North-East stomping ground yesterday to see for herself the town centre she helped to create.

The former Redcar MP and Northern Ireland minister said the £26m Regent Walk shopping centre would help bring back the town's glory days.

Unlike some people, she said she "loved" the town's latest piece of public art erected as part of the development.

The Seven Red Plaice sculpture, placed at the entrance of the 23-unit shopping centre, is a showpiece of the development which includes new roads and bus services.

Ms Mowlam said: "This is a great day for Redcar. Regent Walk is a development that will make a real difference to the whole of the town.

"It's fantastic to see a project that I helped to start reach a successful conclusion - so many don't"

"I think the fish sculpture is a good piece of art. You never get everybody to like art straight away.

"However, they didn't like the Gateshead Angel or the Greyhound at Stockton at first, but then people begin to accept it."

The shopping centre has been developed by Scarborough Development Group, formerly Teesland group, in partnership with Sir Robert McAlpine, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and the Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast.