Judge bars Currys shop from Sunday opening

A CURRYS electrical store was told by a High Court judge yesterday to stop trading on Sundays - despite this week's Commons vote to allow six-hour opening.

Mr Justice Lindsay said: 'The Shops Act is still the law and it is to be applied as it stands. Even today, the precise form to which the law will change is unknown.'

Ruling that Lincoln City Council was entitled to an injunction, he said he knew of no precedent for a court 'staying its hand' because a law change was imminent.

In view of the judgment, Currys' owners, Dixons Stores Group, gave an undertaking in lieu of an injunction not to open on Sundays. The company will be automatically freed from its pledge when the old trading restrictions are repealed. The council took civil action against Currys after 89 summonses brought in the magistrates' court under the criminal sanctions of the Shops Act failed to stop Sunday opening at its shop in the Peel Centre, Lincoln.

The following supermarkets and department stores will be open tomorrow:

Safeway - 287 of its 361 branches will open. Hours vary but in general will be 10am-5pm.

Sainsbury's - 172 of its 340 branches will open, mainly the larger stores. Hours vary but will generally be either 10am-4pm or 9am-5pm.

Tesco - 260 of its 416 branches will open. Hours vary but will generally be 10am-4pm.

Asda - 198 of its 202 stores will open, including Dales Discount stores. Hours will be 10am-5pm.

Gateway - about 200 of its 650 stores will open. Hours vary - check local press for details.

House of Fraser - 40 department stores will open, including: Kendalls in Manchester - 11am-6pm; Frasers in Glasgow - 11am-5.30pm; Rackhams in Birmingham - 11am-5pm; Howells in Cardiff - 11am-5pm; Cavendish House in Cheltenham - 11am-5pm; Army and Navy in Guildford - 11am-5pm; D H Evans in Oxford Street, London 11am-6pm; Dickens and Jones in Regents Street, London - 11am-5pm.

Selfridges in Oxford Street, London, will open 11.30am-6pm.

The following stores will not be opening on Sunday:

Waitrose; Marks and Spencer; Harrods.

John Lewis Partnership department stores, including: Bonds of Norwich; Heelas of Reading; Bainbridge of Newcastle upon Tyne; Caleys of Windsor; Cole Brothers of Sheffield; Jessop and Son of Nottingham; Knight and Lee of Southsea; George Henry Lee of Liverpool; Robert Sale of Cambridge; Trewins of Watford; Tyrrell and Green of Southampton.