THE £35m extension to the Outlet Village, which will create 350 jobs, opened to shoppers today.

The new shops are located in the regenerated historic Long Shop building, part of the Grade II-listed Great Western Railway Works.

Although not entirely complete, the extension will have created around 350 jobs once the works are all finished in early 2015. 

This will bring the total number of people employed at the Outlet to 1,100, from its current 750.

As part of the first phase of the relaunch, due to officially open in spring next year, Wagamama and Pizza Express have opened at the site. 

Today, a new state-of-the-art play area opened at the centre, featuring the country's first ever 'Wall Holla' - a towering structure with fun, unusual facets that will inspire children of all ages to explore their way through the inventive maze. 

The second and final phase launching in spring 2015, including the conversion of the Long Shop, will create up to 30 new stores – making the total number at the outlet around 120 - and add nearly 50,000 sq ft of new retail space.