Town centre bosses say they are winning their battle to attract top stores to a shopping centre.

The Arndale Centre in Eastbourne is now full for the first time in more than a year after the last five empty units were snapped up by high street names.

Recent additions include The Mobile Phone Store, The Perfume Shop, Tiny Computers, and Burtons.

In the summer, a business plan by Eastbourne Town Centre Business Initiative highlighted concerns over the future viability of the town centre, particularly the Arndale Centre.

Experts blamed competition from places such as Brighton and Tunbridge Wells as a reason why many retailers in the town had been hit by a fall in profits.

Now shopping centre bosses are confident the new stores will go some way towards winning customers back from multi-million pound shopping developments in rival resorts.

Arndale Centre manager Bill Plumridge said: "It's great to see new, big names joining the excellent selection of stores we already have in the centre.

"The fact we are fully let is fairly unique among shopping centres and confirms the Arndale's position as the top retail destination in East Sussex.

"We are aware Eastbourne has to compete with shopping centres in neighbouring towns and we are constantly striving to bring the right kind of names into the centre for our customers."

However, town centre manager Elliot Cairnes believes more fashion chains need to be lured to the resort before there will be any significant boost in trade.

He said: "It's great to see the centre full and it's definitely a step in the right direction, but it's a shame they can't get traders who will bring even more income to the town.

Mr Cairnes said he still hoped Arndale centre owner Legal and General would form a partnership with the borough council to redevelop the centre.

He said: "We're all working very hard to make the town centre much stronger. We're hoping such a partnership would help us make radical improvements which would make a significant difference.

"We need to bring in eight to ten more top fashion names to encourage people to shop here. It's a long and difficult process but we're convinced it's the only solution to make Eastbourne more competitive."

Bob Lacey, deputy leader of Eastbourne Council, said: "I'm very encouraged by the news all the retail units have been filled. I hope this will encourage the owners to consider expansion in the near future.

"Eastbourne is very much a boom town and it is attracting interest from new shops all the time."