This is not just any building site... This is an M&S building site

Work is ploughing ahead on the giant M&S store as part of the £70million Riverside development in Stafford town centre.

As these pictures show, construction on the multi-million pound complex is coming along nicely and is on course to be open by 2016 as planned.

Building work on a new 14-level car park which will provide 1,000 spaces is also well under way, replacing the old eyesore multi-storey that was demolished.

Other big name retailers including Primark, River Island, H&M and Debenhams have also been earmarked while high-end restaurants and a seven-screen cinema are all part of the ambitious plans.

Stafford Borough Council leader Patrick Harrington welcomed the speed of work on the project.

"I have seen the development progressing and it is very, very pleasing," he said. "It is going to be a fantastic part of £1billion that is being ploughed into Stafford in the town centre regeneration and elsewhere.

"It will attract businesses to the town centre on the back of the MOD signals coming into the town.

"It will assist with the foot print and I am sure the local businesses are looking forward to that.

"There is plenty of other commercial and residential development going on which, once complete, will make Stafford as the county town a fantastic place."

The Riverside development is expected to generate 600 jobs in the area on its own.

The council recently revealed the plans for the cinema had been expanded from an 860-seat, five-screen venue to a 900-seat, seven-screen picture house.

It will also have a 5ft by 3ft LED screen showing the latest trailers.

A council spokesman confirmed the project was on track and sue to be opened in spring 2016.

The £70million investment also includes the Kingsmead project which will see a Morrisons store built on the Kingsmead car park in North Walls.

Both schemes combined are expected to generate nearly 900 jobs.