SHOPS in Dorchester are set to open on Sundays in the run up to Christmas

The move comes as businesses try to catch up with successful shops in Weymouth's town centre and boost profits after the blows of foot and mouth and the September 11 tragedy.

Leaders from Dorchester and District Chamber of Commerce found that 80 per cent of shops in Dorchester's South Street intended to open on Sundays after the Christmas Cracker on December 6.

Now they are urging independent traders to unite with the chain stores and pull more shoppers into the town centre over the festive period.

Vince O'Neill, chamber vice-president, said: "I was quite surprised by the response.

"In previous years there has been very patchy opening, but this year about 80 per cent of those we asked intended to open on every Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

"They hoped to open from the weekend after the Casterbridge Cracker to the weekend before Christmas.

"We were greatly encouraged by that. There has been a lot of doom and gloom recently.

"Hopefully, people will come out and relax and enjoy themselves in town. I would encourage the independent shops to support the nationals this year and open over Christmas."

Mr O'Neill and chamber president Richard Thorogood held a straw poll of traders in South Street before revealing the findings at the chamber's annual general meeting last night.

In the past some national chain stores have provided the stumbling block by refusing to open on Sundays.

The seventh annual Casterbridge Christmas Cracker on Thursday, December 6 - the equivalent of Shownight in Weymouth - has sparked the move.

It comes in the wake of plans for opening in Weymouth on Thursday nights and Sundays over Christmas.

President of the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tony Harris said: "Sunday trading in the run up to Christmas has been extremely successful for us in Weymouth and has become a tradition now. Our members are wholehearted in their support of it.

"These days we're heading more towards a seven-day trading week - people like to shop on Sundays. Towns that don't offer this will find shoppers in their area travelling to towns that do. As a county town, I think Dorchester is a bit more set in its ways than Weymouth. I think Sunday opening for Christmas will do Dorchester the world of good."

Mr O'Neill said: "Weymouth are streets ahead in their arrangements in that they have Thursday night opening. We have been a bit slow off the mark this year, but hopefully we will get it right in future years."

He added that there had been a lot of support among traders for the Cracker late night shopping extravaganza.

The event includes shop opening, fancy dress, games, competitions, stalls, music, festive food, drink and a grand procession.