NEXT is the second store to open in the £85 million Arndale Centre extension in Eastbourne.

The shop, which features two floors and a Costa Coffee, opened its doors to shoppers on Wednesday.

It returns bigger and better to the centre after its previous store closed to allow the extension to be built.

With entrances opposite the railway station and the recently opened H & M, the store’s launch also meant the opening of the new widened pavement giving pedestrians access along both sides of Terminus Road.

Nick Gosset, manager of the Eastbourne Next store, and Dionne Mancuso, Next area manager, cut the ribbon to declare the store open.

Andrew Rice, fund manager at Legal & General, said: “It is great to have Next back in the centre and it really is something special with some great features that I know our customers are going to love.”

The 170,000 sq ft extension is being funded by Arndale Centre owners Legal & General.

Once completed, it will bring an extra 22 shops to Eastbourne plus an eight-screen cinema and restaurants.

H & M was the first store in the new extension to open.

More than 1,000 shoppers queued for its opening when staff performed a celebration dance and a ribbon was cut to mark the successful store launch.