SHOPPERS and retailers have welcomed the multi-million pound investment at Poole's Dolphin Shopping Centre.

Yesterday the Daily Echo reported how bosses at the Poole centre had signed an agreement with the Borough of Poole to unlock a £26 million programme of improvements.

The 18-month programme by Legal & General includes, which includes work on internal malls, entrances, public spaces and facades, will also see more stores and restaurants opening.

Manager of the centre's Animal clothing store, Scott Webster, told the Echo: "We're all pretty excited about it really, Poole is ready for a bit of a facelift, a bit of investment."

Scott said he thought the investment would provide a boost to business and make the centre more attractive to customers.

"We've seen a few drawings and other ideas about what they want to do with it, and it all looks pretty good.

"We're all really excited about it – it looks like a positive step to us."

Shopper Peter Smith said it was about time more cash was invested in Poole town centre.

"It feels at times like we are the poor cousin of Bournemouth,” he said. "Walk down from the Dolphin Centre and you’ll see all the empty High Street shops – Poole used to be more vibrant.

"I'm not saying this is a ghost town, I mean look around today – there’s certainly plenty of people around. But the whole place is crying out for a revamp."

Meanwhile, Sherry Stickland – supervisor at Shakeaway – said: "I think the centre needs this, maybe a bit of a revamp is what is needed.

"Recently they’ve painted the benches and they’ve been keeping up to date with that – it makes the place look more colourful.

"We need a bit more colour, and a net up over the square – to stop the seagulls swooping at people would be a good idea."

Sherry said customers often comment that the centre and surrounding area looks "a bit tired" and could do with improving.

Holidaymaker Mary Reynolds, who regularly visits Poole and Bournemouth, said: "We've noticed in recent years that Poole feels like it has just failed to keep up with the development in Bournemouth.

"Hopefully, because we love coming to both towns, this money will really help readdress the balance."

The Secret Wardrobe manager Natalie Kenevan, said: "We’ve been in the Dolphin Centre for almost five years and are the only charity shop that has ever been allowed in the centre.

"We’ve seen lots of people coming and going during our five years.

"The last time there was a proper facelift was 1991, so this is really important. We have a huge demographic in Poole, covering a massive area.

"What we do have here is this covered centre. Unlike Bournemouth, if is raining people will not struggle getting from shop to shop.

"So we have this massive, under cover shopping centre but it feels like it is just not being utilised.

"We need to be able to get people to stop travelling to Bournemouth and Southampton, we should be offering a great range of facilities in Poole."