I AM sure that your readers, like me, had had enough of shopping by the time the shops shut on Christmas Eve and they looked forward to a day at home with friends and family on December 25th.

That is the kind of Christmas Day that we want for Britain's 2.6 million shopworkers. However, year on year, more and more shops are opening their doors on Christmas Day, forcing our members to go to work. Even Scrooge let his staff have Christmas Day off! Budgens, Woolworths, Kwik Save, Sainsbury's, Safeway, Allders and Debenhams opened some stores on Christmas Day, or gave it serious consideration.

Many of your readers have supported our campaign to keep large shops shut on Christmas Day and I would like to thank them for signing our petition and writing to their Member of Parliament.

At present there is a measure called the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill going through Parliament, which will stop all large stores opening on Christmas Day. Unfortunately the new law didn't come in force in time for this Christmas. The Bill has been passed by the House of Lords and is due to be considered by the House of Commons next year.

Your readers can help our campaign by writing to their own MP asking that they support the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill when it comes before the Commons.

Christmas Day is a very special day and we believe it should remain so.

Bill Connor,

General Secretary,

Union of Shop,

Distributive and Allied Workers.