DURHAM'S Cinderella shopping centre is in line for an £8.5m facelift that its new owners hope will bring shoppers flocking back.

A new entrance from Framwelgate Bridge and cafes and shops on the terrace overlooking the River Wear is planned for the Milburngate Centre by Catalyst Capital.

The company, which has property in places such as Paris, bought the centre from Coal Pension Properties last year.

It plans to transform the complex, which has suffered with the opening of the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in 1999.

Several traders based at Milburngate moved into Prince Bishops leaving a number of vacant shops.

Catalyst Capital wants to increase the size of shops in the centre to draw in the big names in High Street fashion.

The new entrance from Framwelgate Bridge will have a canopy and there are plans to create a semi-circular row of shops outside facing North Road.

Durham City Council has sold its lease of the centre's multi-storey car park to Catalyst, which intends to give it a major upgrade. The overall refurbishment will take place over the next two to three years, depending on planning permission.

The car park will be refurbished in phases so that it is never fully closed to motorists.

Catalyst managing partner Peter Kasch said the plan was to reconfigure the complex to create the larger units favoured by leading traders, although the Safeway end of it would stay the same. The new entrance would make the centre more welcoming and greater use would be made of the lower level overlooking the river.

Carol Woods, cabinet member for finance, said: "A vibrant retail area is vital for Durham. Major new funding for Milburngate from Catalyst Capital will boost trade and attract more people to the city centre.

"The extensive works we are carrying out in North Road will get a further boost from this initiative."