Some stores to reopen next week
Eight stores at Castlepoint Shopping Centre will re-open on December 20, following the park's closure at the beginning of the month because of safety fears.

From Tuesday, All:sports, Boots, Clarks, Gap, H&M, Next, Robert Dyas and Virgin will reopen. The management will also reopen 1,000 of its 3,000 car parking spaces.

The partial reopening still leaves the centre without any of its anchors - Marks & Spencer, Asda, Sainsbury's and B&Q - which are not likely to reopen for several weeks. A spokeswoman for Marks & Spencer said they are keen to reopen as soon as possible but Castlepoint management decided there weren't enough parking spaces, so their store remains closed.

Castlepoint Management said the partial reopening comes after consultations with Bournemouth council, the police and the emergency services. Work is continuing in other areas of the car park and once complete, the remaining stores will reopen.

'We are very pleased to be able to announce this progress today,' said Mike Hannigan, on behalf of the Castlepoint Partnership. 'We are grateful to Bournemouth council for their advice and assistance and to our retailers for their understanding. Lastly, we would like to thank our customers and visitors for their continued patience.'