Celia Barlow, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, has added her name to a Parliamentary motion opposing an extension of the six-hour Sunday trading limit for big stores.

The motion has also been signed by Brighton Labour MPs David Lepper and Des Turner.

Ms Barlow, who this week attended a Save Our Sundays campaign meeting against the deregulation of Sunday trading hours, said: "Sunday is a very special day and often the only day for families to spend together.

"If large shops were to open any longer it would further erode the special nature of Sundays and prevent the millions of people who need to work in shops from spending valuable time with their children, family and friends.

"Sunday has always been a special day and the opening of large stores would change this nature."

The Government said it wasreviewing the pros and cons of further liberalisation of the Sunday trading laws because the current laws had been in place for more than ten years and "consumers now have greater expectations".