AFTER 15 months of construction, building work at the largest store in High Wycombe's new Eden shopping centre has finished.

Staff at the four-storey, 143,500 sq ft House of Fraser were handed the keys to the department store earlier this week.

They will now start kitting out the inside of the store, which has become the first within the Eden complex to be completed.

Developers Multiplex says construction of the store, which will be bigger than House of Fraser in Reading's Oracle shopping centre has progressed steadily and has met all of its building deadlines.

Alan Peach, director of retail development at Multiplex, said: "The successful handover of the House of Fraser building marks a significant milestone in the development of Eden."

Richard Wayment, who will be running the new store, added: "We just can't wait to open in less than 11 months time. House of Fraser's arrival in High Wycombe will bring a fresh and aspirational shopping offer which will benefit both the town and attract customers from throughout the region."

The store will provide new jobs when it opens in spring 2008 and Multiplex has said Eden is on target to open on time.

Other stores inside the 600,000 sq ft Eden centre will include Marks & Spencer, HMV, Zara, Top Shop, Ernest Jones and Principles as well as a bowling alley and 12-screen cinema.