A Lidl store is to open in Thornaby town centre. Work on the store, near Mitchell Square, is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year and it should be open for business in summer 2006.

It is the first of many new store openings to be expected as part of Thornfield Properties' redevelopment plans for the town centre.

Working with Stockton Borough Council and the local community, the plans retain the Pavilion Leisure Centre and include the addition of more than 30 new stores to surround the remodelled St Peters Square.

Work is due to start next spring and will increase Thornaby town centre by more than 250,000 sq ft.