A major shopping centre is looking forward to a hole new future – with work on its most significant facelift since the 1990s beginning a week before Christmas.

Tens of thousands of shoppers are expected to descend on Churchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton as the Christmas rush hots up.

But those visiting are set to be greeted with a large gap in its facade as contractors began work on revamping some of its 50-year-old units, to ensure that it can compete with London and Southampton as a shopping destination.

The proposal, which was revealed by owners Standard Life Investments last year, will see floor to ceiling glass installed along the entire 100-metre Western Road building.

At the heart of the development will be the centre’s new flagship Topshop/Topman store.

It is expected that the work will take months to complete.