FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY Shoppers relax under a giant, 50-foot ‘sun’, which has been installed at intu Trafford Centre in a bid to extend Britain’s joint hottest summer on record. The ‘sun’ shines as brightly as 12,000 lightbulbs and will be exhibited at 11 intu shopping centres around the country over the next month. It is modelled on a photograph captured by NASA, and follows research that four in five Brits feel happier when it’s sunny.

Britain’s joint hottest summer on record may now have passed, but a giant 50-foot artificial sun is being installed at intu Trafford Centre today in a bid to extend the summer and make people happier.

The glowing, bright orange sphere took 12 weeks to build, has a 15-metre circumference and shines as brightly as 12,000 lightbulbs. Its installation follows intu’s happiness survey, which reveals that four in five Brits (82 per cent) feel happier when it’s sunny.

The artificial sun has been modelled on a photograph captured by NASA and will be shining inside intu Trafford Centre until before going on a tour of 11 intu centres across the country. Each centre will have its own ‘sunny spots’ for shoppers to sit back on deck chairs and bathe in the sun.

According to the research, a third of British adults say 2018 has been their happiest summer in memory despite the economic uncertainty, with two in five crediting the sunshine for their increased happiness levels.

The research also revealed that over two-thirds of people living in the UK  feel happier in the summer than they do in the winter, with sunshine, longer days , summer holidays and more outdoor activity  the top reasons given. 80 per cent say the much needed summer rays also make them feel healthier.

Roger Binks, customer experience director for intu, comments:“The weather forecast for the next month at intu shopping centres is guaranteed to be ‘sunny’ so shoppers are encouraged to take a pair of sunglasses with them when they visit! We know that people feel happier when it’s sunny and after a glorious summer we wanted to extend the sunshine and create something sunny for our 35 million shoppers. At intu we have something for everyone, so whether you’re on a shopping spree or just want to sit back and enjoy the sun, we have you covered.”

19-20 Sept: intu Trafford Centre, Manchester

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