THOUSANDS of shoppers descended on Newport for the long-awaited opening of the Friars Walk shopping centre today in a historic day for the city.

The £100 million scheme, which is one of just three shopping centres to have opened in the UK in 2015, has been in development for more than three years.

With 35 shops, 11 restaurants and an eight-screen cinema, the development has created 1,200 jobs and could prove the turning point in the city’s fortunes following a devastating economic downturn.

Debenhams, which was opened on site by renowned fashion designer Julien Macdonald, has finally come to Newport after more than 27 years of speculation.

The likes of H&M, Mothercare, Jack & Jones, Next, Schuh, Tiger and The Candle Company have also ventured into the city for the first time.

Indeed, the fact that outlets such as Top Shop and M&S Foodhall have returned to Newport sent a message that this is a city firmly on the rise again.

Yet, Friars Walk is not just about shopping. Spending the day in Newport is now an altogether more attractive prospect - for the first time in more than a decade - thanks to an array of food outlets and entertainment options.

The likes of Le Bistrot Pierre, Nando’s, Las Iguanas, Prezzo, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Wagamama offer residents a high-quality dining alternative in the city, with the eagerly-anticipated Cineworld also open on the site.

Unsurprisingly then, the excitement was palpable as around 5,000 people patiently waited outside the shopping centre’s gates for the velvet ribbon to be cut at 10am yesterday.

As the leader of Newport City Council, councillor Bob Bright, did the honours, following a blessing from the Bishop of Monmouth, the Right Rev Richard Pain, the crowds poured in to cheers from on looking staff.

The reaction was wholly positive with shoppers from across Gwent delighted that Newport now had a shopping centre it could be proud of.

Jordan Jones, 24, from Newport, said: “I’m very impressed, it’s bigger than I thought it was going to be.

“This will make a difference in the city.”

Amanda McEwan, 52, from Newport said: “I always used to go to Cwmbran, but I’ll do it all in Newport now.

“It’s more than I expected, it’s got shops that Newport hasn’t had before.”

Andy Buchanan, 36, from Newport, said: “It’s really good, it’s unrecognisable really. In recent years, we’ve not been but we’ll probably start looking again.

“You don’t have to go to Cardiff or Cwmbran – it’s all on our doorstep now.”

Lisa Nicholson, 38, from Newport, said: “I think it will bring a lot of people into the city.”

Gaynor Trainer, 56, from Blackwood, said: “We’re very pleased with it and Newport needs something like this because it was going downhill fast,

“It’s the nearest and biggest town in the Valleys.”

Michael Trainer, 68, from Blackwood, said: “We usually go to Cardiff because Newport’s gone so down so let’s hope this lifts it up.”

Julie Price, from Newport, said: “Isn’t it awesome? It really does feel like a city today – look at all these people.”

First Minister Carwyn Jones, who attended the opening, hailed the development and believes a modern shopping centre like this is befitting of one of Wales’ biggest cities.

He said: “It’s a great addition to Newport: a big new shopping centre connected to the city centre. Everyone will benefit because of where it is.

“It was a brave decision by the council in 2010 to take the moves it did at a time when the market was flat but the council wanted to see Newport develop.

“I worked in the city 25 years ago and people would’ve been amazed to see where the city has gone in that time.”

Leader of Newport City Council, councillor Bob Bright, said that rather than this being a “temple of materialism”, it was a development to bring the city together and celebrate community spirit.

He said: “It’s here on time and it’s going to be here in 60 or 70 year."

The only snag in a momentous day for Newport came when one of the barriers in the development’s car park stopped working at around 1.30pm.

But security filled in and manned the barriers to allow drivers to leave the car park unhindered, before the barrier was repaired around 30 minutes later.