A FUN DAY to celebrate the official opening of the Arcade site for temporary use will take place on Saturday.

Attractions will include children's entertainers, face-painting, a bungee run, a football competition, a climbing wall and more.

Visitors will also be able to put forward ideas for what the site, on the corner of Hoe Street and High Street, should be used for in the short term.

Chris Robbins, council leader, said: "We could have specialist markets, sports events, theatrical performances or even a temporary ice rink in the winter."

The council has admitted that work on the permanent development of the site is unlikely to begin for another three years.

The council has bailed out the development with £35m of borrowed public money, after developer St Modwen decided it could no longer fund it due to the recession.

The latest plan would see a scheme with a swimming pool as an "anchor tenant" to attract business to the area.

Saturday's event runs from 11am to 3pm and is free.