Aycliffe Monthly #1 | Page 9

Aycliffe Today Monthly | 9 @AycliffeToday Pop star Amelia Lily was the star attraction as an estimated 1,500 Newtonians celebrated the re-launch of Aycliffe town centre. T he 19-year-old X Factor star performed five songs as part of the Christmas lights party. Aycliffe town centre has undergone a £2m facelift and the party was to mark it, with new Christmas lights and an impressive formation of five festive trees in the central area of the shopping centre. Lily, from Middlesbrough, finished third in the 2011 X Factor competition and her debut single, You Bring Me Joy, reached number two in the UK Singles Chart – a song which she performed in Aycliffe. There was also star performances by local band North Road and local solo singers Oli Patto, Hayley McKay and Jack Millican. The centre’s owners, property management firm Freshwater Ltd, have spent £2m on the second phase of a £10m Master Plan. The latest development, which started in February and has lasted all year, has included new paving throughout, new lighting, a new spiral staircase an ^YKX