SHOPPERS would like more time to visit the stores on Sundays, a new survey suggested.

Customers aged 16 to 25 are most supportive of longer opening hours, with 69 per cent in favour of extended Sunday trading.

A poll of nearly 900 people at six shopping centres across England revealed that an average 56 per cent were in favour of longer opening hours.

Of the 25 to 40-year-olds questioned, 58 per cent wanted more time to shop on a Sunday.

Under the Sunday Trading Act, which came into force in August 1994, larger stores may only open for six hours.

Retail lawyer Tony Askham, of the firm Bond Pearce, which commissioned the survey, said the findings showed consumers wanted greater flexibility.

He said: "Sunday shopping has become a fixture in our lives but the six-hour rule appears increasingly archaic in view of the wider choices available to consumers elsewhere, including longer pub opening times from November."

Commenting on the survey, Kevin Hawkins, director-general of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Retailers are customer-focused and customer-led, and where there is a clear demand, it would not surprise me if retailers wished to meet those demands."

There are no restrictions on Sunday hours for small shops under 280 square metres.

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 applies to large stores over 280 square metres in size. It restricts Sunday opening to six continual hours between 10am and 6pm. Large stores cannot open on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day.

There are no restrictions on Sunday trading hours for small shops under 280 square metres.

The shopping centres where 887 people were questioned were the Victoria Centre in the middle of Nottingham, the Oracle in the centre of Reading, Brent Cross on the edge of London, the Trafford Centre on the outskirts of Manchester, the out-of-town Metro Centre at Gateshead, and the out-of-town Lakeside in Thurrock, Essex.