THE region’s biggest shopping centre is extending its opening hours following a vote by traders.

The intu Metrocentre in Gateshead, Europe’s largest covered shopping centre, is opening its doors one hour earlier at 9am.

The shopping centre, which opened in 1986, has traditionally opened doors for trading at 10am, but following a vote by tenants has introduced a permanent earlier start.

Steve Clarke, general manager at House of Fraser and chair of the Tenants’ Association, said: “Many retailers in centre have been aware of shoppers on the mall from 9am; lots of mums or dads who had done the school run and then popped immediately into the shopping centre were simply waiting for shops to open.

“By opening an hour earlier this will certainly help our early shoppers and encourage customers to take advantage of that extra hour in the morning.”

Gavin Prior, the centre’s general manager, said the mall was undergoing a £120 million investment to improve the Platinum Mall and extend the Qube leisure area.

He said: “intu Metrocentre has been constantly evolving and developing to meet the needs of our customers and retailers.

“It’s a logical step that will be very popular as the schools go back and parents’ thoughts turn to getting organised for the coming season.”