WORK on a £26m shopping development in Redcar town centre got under way yesterday.

The Regent Walk scheme has been proposed for the town for the past five years. The development will include a Morrisons supermarket, 23 shops and parking for more than 650 cars.

The scheme is a partnership between developer 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. The centre should be open in time for Christmas next year.

The first stage, which got under way yesterday, will affect car parking in the centre of the town.

Thousands of leaflets explaining the alterations will be available in some High Street shops, as well as from the town's tourist information centre and libraries across the borough.

The first big change will be north of the railway, in 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 properties will take place. Work will also start on a new road junction in West Dyke Road, and on a new access road to link West Dyke Road with Lord Street.

There will be associated service diversions.

The project involves the demolition of more than 50 houses, several churches, a terrace of businesses, the listed Pig and Whistle pub, and a couple of car showrooms, but it is hoped the development will be a focal point for the whole of the borough.

West Dyke Road car park, north of the railway, will be closed to allow for some of the work, 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 about 120 construction jobs and about 400 retail jobs.