WORK is due to start on the remainder of the £60 million Kidderminster town centre development in July.

Developer Centros Miller has sold the remainder of the Weaver's Wharf site for £30 million to investment company Highstone Estates to secure its future.

However, the developer will continue to oversee the project's running.

Shops on the site are expected to be up and trading by April next year. However, there is still no confirmation of a cinema - number one on people's wish lists.

Among new names for the development, which is predicted to give an immediate £35 million boost to the district economy, are clothing giant Next and specialist food shop Julian Graves.

Next will move its premises from High Street in an expansion which will see the store increase from 2,000 sq ft to 18,000 sq ft.

There are still nine units to be let on Weaver's Wharf but offers are under consideration from German coffee-shop chain Tchibo, card and gifts shop Clintons and jewellers Signet.

They will join JJB Sports, which will open a 45,000 sq ft complex encompassing a health and fitness club, swimming pool and 15,000 sq ft superstore selling sports goods.

Other outlets committed to the development are Pizza Hut, department store De Bradelei Mills, a drive-through Burger King, a West Midland Co-Op Travel Centre, McDonald's and shoe stores Brantano and Stylo Barratt.

The first phase of the scheme was completed with the opening of the Tesco superstore last month.

Centros Miller development manager David Lewis said: "We are delighted to have secured funding for Weaver's Wharf and with the level of pre-letting now achieved we can take a major step forward with the regeneration of this major town site."