CASTLEPOINT is fully open at last and its bosses are assuring members of the public not to worry if they spot cracks.

Boss David Paine says the cracked area of car park has been passed as safe by experts. Now it is full steam ahead.

The last of Castlepoint's stores re-opened their doors today, with shoppers showing no signs of concern as they flock back to their favourite shopping haunt.

Arcadia group shops Burtons, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop and Wallis have become the last shops to re-open after the centre's sudden closure on November 30, when the car park was deemed unsafe.

An Arcadia spokeswoman said they had originally planned to open on Friday.

"We took this opportunity to re-stock and merchandise all of our brands' stores within the centre and, having completed this ahead of schedule, we are therefore re-opening the stores today," she said.

TK Maxx, one of the first shops to open after the initial 1,000 car parking spaces were made available in December, is the only store currently closed due to refurbishment and, according to the Castlepoint website, expects to re-open on February 13.

A large crack is still visible on the surface of the car park's upper storey, but Castlepoint partnership spokesman David Paine said it was spotted before the centre's closure and does not pose a safety risk.

"This line of cracks was subjected to a series of props being put in place, which predates the subsequent exercise we have been through during the course of December and January," he said, adding that it was re-propped during the recent works and is still being monitored.

He said it has been signed off by a number of experts as passing health and safety requirements.

Mike Holmes, Bournemouth council's head of planning and transport, said: "It has been known for some time that cracks are symptomatic of the problems with the Castlepoint car park, and that Castlepoint management have an on-going programme to safeguard the site, most recently involving extensive propping.

"At each stage of propping completion, we have received the necessary assurances that the car park is safe."

Although Castlepoint has been signed off as safe, the work that has been done is only remedial and Mr Paine said he is still unsure what the permanent solution will be or when it will be implemented.

Castlepoint partnership has thanked customers and members of the local community for their patience, Bournemouth Council for its support and Yellow Buses for help with park and ride schemes.