UP to 100 jobs could be created following the completion of an indoor food hall in the Kingfisher Centre, it has been revealed.

The news was announced on Friday as plans for the food hall, which will cost £1.5 million to develop, were unveiled.

The 23,000sq ft hall will be sited above the new bus station, which is now being built, and centre owners Thornfield hope it will be open next spring.

Butchers and bakers will be just some of the traders to feature in the 21-stall food hall and as many as 40 retailers have already shown an interest in coming to Redditch.

Raymond Linch, of project managers Quarterbridge, said: "Interest is proving to be very high, with a number of the 21 retail units already reserved.

"We are convinced the scheme will prove a major success, serving the community within the South Midlands and Redditch in particular."

Mr Linch said the firm was particularly keen to attract ethnic food retailers to the centre, especially those selling Caribbean food.

The food hall, which will be run by a full-time manager, will trade seven days a week during normal shopping hours.

Mr Linch added: "This is a particularly exciting project because we were given a blank piece of paper."

The Kingfisher Centre's only supermarket, Tesco, closed on Christmas Eve, despite public outrage and a campaign led by Redditch Council to keep it open.