SUNDAY shopping is to come to Blackburn this April as the fight back against rival centres is stepped up.

Bosses at Blackburn's shopping centre are determined to keep up with their closest neighbours in the battle to win customers.

And they are also concerned about the threat posed by the massive new retail centre which is due to open at Trafford in Manchester later this year.

Most of the traders in the shopping centre will open for business on Sunday, April 19, the weekend after Easter.

The move has been timed to coincide with the opening of the new T J Hughes store in Church Street.

All the largest stores will then continue to open on Sunday and most of the smaller units have agreed to take part.

Eamonn Furlong, boss of the Standard Life owned centre, said: "Blackburn has to maintain its position in the market and offer the customer the service they want.

"Most of our competitors offer Sunday trading and we have to stay in step with them.

"We also have to be aware that a major shopping centre will be opening in Manchester later this year.

"In some centres Sundays are the second busiest day of the week and more and more people want to go shopping at the weekend."

Meetings were held with the recently formed shopping centre traders association before the decision was made.

Mr Furlong added: "Sunday shopping is here to stay in Blackburn. We have to establish a trading pattern in the town and customers need to be given time to get used to Sunday shopping."

The centre will open from 10am until 4pm and there will be free parking.

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