John Lewis workers race against time ahead of opening

Workers were today busy stacking shelves and polishing off displays ahead of the much-anticipated opening of John Lewis on Friday.

Yesterday members of the media were given an early tour around the new department store, including The Exeter Daily editor Natalie Vizard.

"It has a real 'wow' factor," she said.

"The attention to detail is incredible and I think shoppers are going to be impressed by what is on offer."

Meanwhile work continued late into the night at the junction of Sidwell Street and New North Road.

It has been reported that the John Lewis Partnership has invested about £16m in the project.

However city centre manager, John Harvey told TED yesterday that not everyone was pleased with the arrival of such a major name.

He explained: “There are many independent retailers who believe that it will be positive. I was speaking to a local retailer in Fore Street and they were really excited, but equally I have other retailers who say is going to be a disaster. They say John Lewis will get all the business and they will get none."

Other residents have expressed concern over the volume of traffic being diverted as a result of the work that has been carried out.

But Mr Harvey remains positive about the John Lewis factor.

He added: "There is no question that Exeter will continue to attract new retail names over the coming months. Exeter is a winning City Centre, with a winning vision for the future – a vision that John Lewis, Hollister, Bills, Cath Kidston and many other new name retailers and businesses will want to share with us over the coming year."

* See TED throughout the day for more John Lewis pictures