AN enormous puppet and a huge ‘golden eagle’ provided a spectacular backdrop to a new water feature to mark the relaunch of Stockton town centre after a £38m regeneration.

Crowds of shoppers were entertained by an 11-metre tall ‘giant’ and a theatrical bird of prey with an eight-metre wing span which swooped to reveal a new central garden.

Stockton Borough Council leader, councillor Bob Cook, said the make-over had created a “welcoming and enticing place which was a pleasure to visit”.

The two-and-a-half year scheme has seen new paving, road improvements, street furniture, bus shelters and street lighting as well as performance spaces and a permanent home for the town’s specialist and weekly markets.

Following a £4m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore The Globe Theatre where The Beatles and The Rolling Stones once played, work is now underway to prepare a more detailed development phase application.

The local authority is also trying to encourage more small, independent shops and quirky markets to the town to offer an alternative to out-of-town shopping centres like Teesside Park.

And outside Marks and Spencer a new granite plinth has been constructed which will hold the 'Stockton Flyer,' an automated train which will emerge at different times of day, to commemorate the town’s world famous railway.

The stone structure will also be used as a stage and for temporary sculptures in a similar way to the fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square.

Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Barbara Inman said on Saturday while officially reopening the new look town centre with council leader Bob Cook: “Today will be remembered for many years to come by everyone who was lucky enough to be able to visit Stockton.

“The mesmerising show by Carros de Foc and Stockton’s very own Heritage Dance Studio pupils perfectly showcased the versatility of the new water feature and its surrounding seating and planting areas.

Cllr Bob Cook added: “Every day, you will find something going in Stockton Town Centre, whether it’s markets, events, great shopping in a diverse range of independent shops or fantastic cultural experiences offered by Arc, the Georgian Theatre and other venues as well as sports and leisure activities available at Splash and watersports on the River Tees.

"By bringing all these experiences together in one town centre, we are creating a visitor destination which is something very different to other town centres so we are in a much stronger position to maintain and increase visitors and shoppers.”