WORK on a new multi-million pound shopping development for Redcar town centre got underway today.

The £26m Regent Walk scheme has been on the cards for the seaside town for the past five years and 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.

There will be three development phases and the work is expected to take about 17 months to complete - so the new centre should be open in time for Christmas 2002.

The first stage, which began yesterday, affects car parking in the town centre and thousands of leaflets explaining the changes will be available in some of the High Street shops as well as the town's Tourist Information Centre and libraries across the borough.

The first big change will be north of the railway on West Dyke Road, where a "bus and service vehicle only" system will operate into the town centre. The diverted route for cars will be via Corporation Road, Kirkleatham Lane and Coatham Road. West Dyke Road will still be open to all southbound traffic.

During this first phase, demolition of existing properties will take place and work will start on a new road junction on West Dyke Road and on a new access road to link West Dyke Road with Lord Street.

There will also be associated service diversions. West Dyke Road car park, north of the railway, will be closed, as will parts of the main Wilton Street car park.

A reduced number of spaces will be available behind Kwik Save and off Regent Street, with access off Lord Street and Regent Street respectively.

The new development is expected to create around 120 construction jobs and around 400 shop floor jobs.

Updated: 13.06 Monday, July 16