MAJOR city stores in Worcester will be banned from opening on Christmas Day to give their staff the day off, under new laws in the pipeline.

The department of trade and industry has announced plans for legislation to stop the "domino effect" of more retailing on December 25.

It follows fears that more large stores are preparing to open their doors on Christmas Day, because they feel obliged to compete with their rivals.

But shops smaller than 280 square metres (3,000 square feet) will be exempt from the crackdown, to be pushed through in the autumn.

Those smaller stores are already excluded from the laws which restrict larger outlets to opening for only six hours on a Sunday.

Alan Johnson, the employment relations minister: "Regulation will ensure the special nature of Christmas Day is preserved and that shop workers in large stores are protected from being forced to work.

"We know the vast majority of major stores do not open on Christmas Day and believe that legislation now will avoid future widespread opening of stores as a result of competitive pressure."

Mr Johnson announced a three month consultation on the issue with retailers and other parties, before introducing the legislation.

Sir Bill Connor, general secretary of USDAW, the shop workers' union, said: "There is no consumer demand for Christmas Day trading.

"Shop workers will be delighted to have legal protection from being forced to work on this special day."

Under the 1994 Sunday Trading Act, stores above (3,000 sq ft) are not allowed to open on Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday.