This summer will mark 40 years since the Eastgate Centre in Basildon opened.

The first stage of the shopping centre swung open its doors in August 1980 with SavaCentre being the first shop to welcome in customers.

The massive 'hypermarket' was one of only a handful in the country and sold groceries, clothes, and home goods.

Some of the other original anchor shops included Allders department store which opened in 1985 and weathered the high street shoppig storm untol it closed in 2005.

Readers of a certain age will also remember Chelsea Girl.

To mark the upcoming anniversary here are some images of the shopping centre from our archives.