Christmas Day shopping ban

Supermarkets and other large stores will be banned from opening on Christmas Day under plans being drawn up by ministers.

The move comes after a "Protect Christmas Day" campaign by the shop workers union Usdaw after supermarkets, including Safeway, Budgens and the Co-op, opened outlets across the country last year. The latest moves were revealed in a letter sent by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, to the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, that has been leaked to The Sunday Times.

The Department of Trade and Industry hopes it will become law by Christmas next year. Ministers are said to be concerned that other faiths will press for similar treatment for their important holy days.

A DTI spokesman said: "It is not particularly a religious thing. There is a diversity of religious groups in this country. But Christmas Day is a major part of the UK's holiday culture."

Usdaw's general secretary, Sir Bill Connor, said: "We have campaigned long and hard for this change to the law. This is fantastic news for Usdaw members who work extremely hard and under great pressure in the run-up to Christmas."