York's £64 million designer shopping outlet opened to the public today with the promise that it would bring an extra one million visitors a year to the city.

And in its first 12 months, more than five million fashion-conscious bargain hunters are expected to descend on the former Naburn Hospital site, near Fulford.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Derek Smallwood, York Tourism Bureau chief executive Gillian Cruddas, and Robin Charlton, of the British Tennis Association, officially snipped the ribbon at the opening ceremony at 10.15am.

The first shoppers were this afternoon exploring the outlet, where designer-label clothing such as Armani, Paul Smith, Ted Baker and DKNY can be bought at 70 per cent of regular retail prices.

Emma Smith, 19, of Sheriff Hutton, said: "It is a lot bigger than I expected. There are some bargains and I think I'm going to buy some Calvin Klein jeans."

James Howe, 28, of Fulford Road, said: "It's a great place. I really like it, especially the food hall. I've got my eye on a Paul Smith shirt."

Jean Chorlton, 56, of Huntington, said: "The clothes are more for the young ones but I quite like some of the kitchen shops and I might come back nearer Christmas."

Joey Kaempfer, chief executive of BAA McArthurGlen, told the Evening Press that his company had high expectations of its new outlet.

Mr Kaempfer claimed that spectacular bargains would attract an estimated one million extra visitors to York every year.

The company is providing bus services from the city centre and Selby to the designer outlet.

The first 1,000 shoppers to arrive at the development today received a £10 gift voucher to spend in the outlet's 85 shops.

More than 850 jobs have been created by the development, according to McArthurGlen, and it is expected that the number of shops will increase to 150 in the new Millennium.

The Lord Mayor described the shopping outlet as an economic boost to the city and the surrounding area. He said: "McArthurGlen is a perfect example of how a company can successfully integrate into the community.

"It is not merely the financial commitment that they have given, substantial though that is.

"Environmentally, they have been sympathetic to the needs of the locality which has contributed to the lessening of tensions that were originally there."

see NEWS 'Streakers halt shop ceremony'

see NEWS 'Designer Day becomes Carry On Shopping'

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