The first phase of a £3million revamp of a shopping centre has started. 

Walthamstow Mall has hired Stanton Construction to carry out the work, which will include 80,000sq ft of new retail and leisure space.

Work started at the end of July and will run until February 2015, with businesses trading as normal, as the majority of work will take place outside of trading hours. 

Chris Bracey, of Gods Own Junkyard in Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, will create unique neon signs for the centre.

New shop fronts, flooring, and a feature staircase in the central square will be installed and the interior brickwork will be replaced in the coming weeks. 

A ribbon ceiling feature will be installed to filter through natural sunlight and at night project different colours using a modern lighting system. 

General manager Alasdair Currie said: "The refurbishment work getting underway is great news for Walthamstow and it’s a fantastic opportunity to modernise The Mall to meet our customer needs.

"We are very excited about the revamp, which will refresh and revitalise the inside of The Mall and add colour and vibrancy. It will be a case of business as usual here at the Mall for shoppers and retailers while the work is taking place."