A NEW designer outlet has opened in Basildon after an investment of more than £100,000.

Leading Labels launched its store at the Eastgate Shopping Centre on Friday.

Bosses have been working hard on the new shop, which offers brands including Ben Sherman, Izabel London, Saloon, Regatta, and Raffaella.

It comes as Blue Inc has moved to another unit in the shopping centre, which will be above the new designer outlet.

Andrew Haddon, 34, assistant manager of the new store, said: “We are a concessions store with lots of top brands.

“We have created about nine new jobs and we have six other stores in Essex.

“The bottom floor will be the designer women’s brands and upstairs will be the relocated Blu Inc store with brands such as Ben Sherman.

“We are hoping to open for Friday and have done lots of work so far but still have plenty to do before we can open the shoppers.”

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Over the last few years, Basildon’s Eastgate Centre has seen a number of stores exit the town centre site.

Debenhams shut back in May last year, Then in July it was announced H&M in the centre was shutting down.

The chain announced the store was shutting on August 6.

This followed the closure of a number of other major shops in Basildon town centre including Marks & Spencer, BHS and TopShop.

Mr Haddon added: “We are very exciting to open the new store and bring something new to the shopping centre.

“The Blue Inc store has just moved over to be above the Leading Labels shop. There’s still a lot of work to be done before we can open up.

“It’ll be good to see something new come to the centre after so many shops closing down. We’ve spent just over a £100,000 on the new store.”

He said the brands on offer are great quality and value, especially the Blue Inc products.

Job adverts for Blue Inc have been posted in the window of the store at the shopping centre.

Eastgate Shopping Centre was contacted for comment.