Five new stores have opened in the first phase of Eastbourne’s £85 million extension of the newly rebranded shopping centre, The Beacon.

Schuh, New Look, Flying Tiger and Paperchase are now open for business in the new mall that opened on Friday.

In addition, Premier League football club Brighton & Hove Albion has opened a temporary shop in the extension until December 23 and Jack Wills is due to open imminently.

They join other new names H & M, Next and FatFace.

The opening of the mall also marked the switchover of the former Eastbourne Arndale Centre to The Beacon with the launch of a brand-new website and the changeover of all social media channels and signage.

The second phase of the extension will follow in April 2019.

Throughout Friday and Saturday, promotional staff gave out branded bags and cupcakes and there was entertainment from local choir Concentus.

Andrew Rice, Fund Manager at Legal & General, said: “We are delighted to deliver this first phase of the extension, on schedule, before Christmas. We would like to thank everyone for their patience as work continues into 2019.”