A MULTI-million pound redevelopment of a Worcester shopping centre is beginning to take shape with retailers optimistic that it will attract more shoppers to the Faithful City.

The Lychgate Shopping Centre, in the High Street, is undergoing a massive £20m redevelopment that will see fashion chains NEXT, H&M Hennes and Slaters Menswear move in.

An all-weather roof is also being built over the pedestrian walkway leading to Sainsbury's supermarket, and work is due to be carried out on the exterior frontage of the centre, originally built in the 1960s, to modernise it.

Building work started in January and already a lot of the demolition work is finished, with the former Russell & Dorrell department store, which closed in January, completely gutted to make way for the new tenants. The outlines of the new shop units can already be seen, and work on stairwells and lift shafts has begun.

Completion of the centre, owned by Tops Estates Plc, is expected in October.

The shops already trading in the centre are all staying and say they "can't wait" for the transformation to be complete, saying it will have a positive impact on trade.

"I think it's very exciting, both for myself and my customers," said Anna Thompson, manager of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

"I can really see it taking shape. The scaffolding is down now and the hoarding has been moved back, which has made more room. I think it's going to be brilliant. It will really revitalise this part of Worcester."

Claire Baker, from Thornton's, agreed it would be good for trade.

"It's really starting to take shape," said Miss Baker.

"It should bring a lot of business down to our end of town."

Sue Watkins, from Celebrations card shop, said she "could not wait" to see the centre finished.

"I think its going to be fabulous. It's just what we need. It will bring more people to our shop and more people to our end of town. It can only make things better."

The NEXT store will take up 22,000sq ft on the ground and first floor and offer mens, ladies and children's wear, and home furnishings.

H&M Hennes, Europe's largest fashion retailer, will take the remainder of the ground floor, as well as the whole of the basement, amounting to 22,000sq ft in total.

Slaters will take 9,000sq ft on the second floor.

A further unit on the first floor is still under negotiation.