The Reverend June Robson blesses the new Red Mall

The Red Mall will create 1,000 jobs and was given an official blessing by the centre's chaplain, the Reverend June Robson, ahead of next week's opening.

As well as new shops, including a Debenhams store, the project will also provide 1,100 extra car parking spaces.

According to the Definitive Guide to Shopping Centres, the new mall makes the complex the largest in Europe.

It was built by construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine, and will be officially opened on Wednesday, 5 October.

The blessing at the mall entrance on Thursday was attended by construction workers and MetroCentre staff.

Rev Robson said: "When we bless a place, we are praising God for the people who act in this space and are asking him to bless them and what they do there."

'Officially confirmed'

The MetroCentre currently employs 6,000 staff and this figure will rise to 7,000 when the new complex opens.

Its opening will increase the MetroCentre's retail space to more than 1.7m sq ft.

The independent Definitive Guide to Shopping Centres lists the next largest shopping complex as the Bluewater centre in Kent which spreads over 1.5m sq ft.

Jane Holmes, promotions manager at the MetroCentre, said: "In our television advert we now say we are the largest centre in Europe, so we had to have it officially confirmed."