Bury's £350 million town centre showpiece - The Rock Development - has opened to the public.

The gates to The Rock retail and leisure complex opened at 10am with the Taiko group Reborn performing a traditional drumming ritual.

Bury Mayor Cllr John Byrne said: “This is an absolutely fantastic day. Bury is now streets ahead of other towns. This sends out the signal that if you want to stand still, we are going forward.”

A packed programme of events has been lined up to mark the event which has been described as an historic day for the town.

At 11am, high-street giants such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Primark will open their doors for the first time, along with dozens of other retailers.

Meanwhile, cinema fans will be able to sample the new Vue and the AMF bowling complex will roll into action, accompanied by street dance performances.

Hundreds of Bury youngsters will walk in a flag parade through the town centre and dancers and a rock band will perform at various times throughout the day. Special guest former Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson will attend.

Cllr Byrne added: “This is an historic day for Bury because no other town or city in the UK will open a centre like this this year. What a boost for the local economy. I remember when myself and Bury Council’s chief executive Mark Sanders met developers 10 years ago about the possibility of this development.

“I have walked past the site every day since work started and the finished article is impressive. Everyone should come and see it.”

To promote the event, Rock bosses have placed 2,500 artificial rocks around Bury and neighbouring towns.

Those who find the rocks will win prizes ranging from cups of coffee to a £500 diamond from Peter Jackson the Jeweller. And Bury is aiming to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records when, at 6.30pm, the world record for the most number of people doing air guitar in unison will be attempted. To achieve the feat, 1,845 people would have to take part.

The Rock has created 500 jobs, one of which was taken by Dawn Jackson, aged 32, of Glenboro Close, Elton, who will be working as a personal shopper at Debenhams.

“It is a dream come true. It is great to see local people can get jobs from this.”