The restriction of six hours trading for larger stores will be lifted for eight Sundays from July 22, covering the Olympics and Paralympics in the capital this summer.
British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson said: "Some retailers support relaxation of the current rules on Sunday trading in England and Wales, others don't. It must not be the only part of the Government's deregulation plans. "The Chancellor recognises the stranglehold regulation has on growth but the repeated red-tape-slashing promises of the last two years have yet to meet the reality.
"The Government has done some long-overdue clearing out of moribund rules but it must follow through on reform. One-in-one-out is a good principle but it must mean burdens being removed from retail for every new one added. Business is not a single life form. The relief must go to the same sector that is suffering new pain."
