IT WAS a day that heralded a new era in Southampton. From the moment WestQuay's doors opened to the public for the first time at 8am, the new shopping centre was an enormous opening-day success.

Over 104,000 visitors poured into the £295m centre over the following 12 hours, exceeding all expectations and creating a scene like an ants' colony as shoppers bustled about. They spent an amazing £1 million.

From the curious onlookers who just wanted to see the historical moment to the serious customers laden with bags of goodies, tens of thousands of people crammed into the complex.

Local schoolchildren had their moment on stage performing sketches and mimes in the piazza-type town square, on the lower shopping level, at lunchtime.

The day ended with a huge parade of drummers through the centre, culminating in a spectacular display of trapeze, juggling, acrobatics and other circus acts.

With 95 per cent of WestQuay's retail space now taken up, its promoters have the luxury of choosing who they want to fill the remaining units.

Peter Cole, development director for developer Hammerson, said: "Right up until Christmas we will see more and more activity, with the majority of the final lettings taking place by then.

"I anticipate that the whole centre will be taken up by Easter, but we want to make sure we have the right retailers here.

"The massive investment being made into the city will have a huge impact and will send out the message that Southampton is a good place to be."

Mr Cole said that now WestQuay had opened he expected it to act as a magnet for trade and tourism in the area.

"People who came to Southampton for the first time ten or 20 years ago but have preferred to go elsewhere for shopping or the theatre and museums will return," he said.

"WestQuay will put the city back in the position it used to hold as the regional centre.

"It is fabulous for Southampton and I hope everyone will enjoy it.

"This will make the whole of the city a tremendous success."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.