A £50m overhaul of Manchester Airport is complete.

The project - which aims to take the stress out of travelling through Terminal 1 - began four years ago with psychologists scrutinising passengers' body language and feedback.

But the plans had to go back to the drawing board when the ban on liquids and the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack meant changes to security procedures.

 Work finally began two years ago. The terminal now boasts more shops than Market Street in the city centre and a 14-lane security zone with an average wait of eight minutes.

Passenger flow through the terminal has been completely reworked and bosses say there are also better restaurants, cafes, lounges and VIP facilities including valet parking.

Attack

Andrew Cornish, airport managing director, said: "Our terminal redesigns have to withstand the test of time.

"The liquid ban and the terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport meant we had to take them back to the drawing board several times, always putting our customers safety and security at the forefront of our designs.

"However with the work finished in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 set to follow shortly after, the future looks bright.

"We've seen retail growth outstrip the high street over recent years. Many of our passengers have enjoyed the offering here at Manchester previously but we wanted to significantly invest in it and now we will wait to see whether those changes have an effect."

Retailers have spent £15m fitting out 52 'airside' shops, with many new stores including Dixons, Kurt Geiger, Fat Face, Mango, Monsoon, Starbucks and SoHo. Around £14m was spent on the security zone and £3.5m on two lounges.

Emirates will open its own luxury lounge later this year, preparing to welcome the Airbus A380 within the next two years.

Opened in 1962 by the Duke of Edinburgh, the terminal now handles more than 11 million passengers a year.