AS work on the new Westgate Centre moves forward, the cranes at the construction site have become an eye-catching feature of the skyline.

Good progress is being made on the £440m revamp, and now an extra crane has been added off Oxpens Road in Oxford, bringing the total to seven.

John Lewis will be the anchor store and last month Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger were among popular brands confirmed for the shopping centre due to reopen in October next year.

Queen Street has been pedestrianised on a temporary basis and information boards displaying the city's history have been placed around the construction site.

Sara Fuge, development manager for the Westgate Oxford Alliance, said: "The new hoardings at Queen Street celebrate Oxford’s heritage, providing people with a timeline of the city’s unique history, alongside interesting facts.

"We hope local residents and visitors enjoy this celebration of Oxford while learning some fun facts along the way.

"As construction on site continues to progress, we’re getting closer every day to realising our vision for the new Westgate Oxford."

Other brands announced for the centre last month included Blackwell’s, PINK – Victoria’s Secret, Jo Malone, Russell & Bromley, Charles Tyrwhitt, EE, Ernest Jones, Pret and Office.

Businesses already signed up include H&M, Michael Kors, River Island, Superdry, Primark, Next, Schuh, Goldsmiths and New Look, with boutique cinema chain Curzon Cinemas and restaurant Sticks’n’Sushi also confirmed.