I'M sure Somerset County Gazette readers, like me, will have had enough of shopping by now.

Year on year more shops are opening their doors on Christmas Day, forcing Britain's 2.6 million shop workers to go to work. Even Scrooge let his staff have Christmas Day off!

Many of your readers have supported our campaign to keep large shops shut on Christmas Day, and I would like to thank them for signing our petition and writing to their MP.

January 7 saw the first reading of Durham North Labour MP Kevan Jones' Christmas Day (Trading) Bill, which will stop all large stores opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales.

County Gazette readers can help our campaign by writing again to their MP in support of the Christmas Day (Trading) Bill when it comes before the Commons.

Christmas Day is a special day and we believe it should remain so.

BILL CONNOR General Secretary Union of Shop, Distributive & Allied Workers (USDAW) 188 Wilmslow Road, Manchester.