Flashback to 1994: People rush to the shops as Sunday trading is legalised
Many had flouted the old law for years but in August 1994 a change in Sunday trading laws meant thousands of shops in England and Wales could open legally for the first time.
In the past, some of the big stores risked retribution by breaking the old law to open up on Sunday but now every day of the week was a potential shopping day.
Under the new Sunday Trading Act, all stores in England and Wales were free to trade in all goods on Sundays.
Only small shops - under 3,000 square feet - were exempt from all Sunday trading restrictions. Larger stores were limited to six hours of trading on a Sunday.
And, under a concession granted to appease anti-Sunday opening groups, they were not allowed to trade on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day when that falls on a Sunday.
But some large businesses such as pharmacies and motorway service areas were exempted from the restrictions as are restaurants, hairdressers and other premises providing services.
The Act also provided protection from dismissal for employees who do not want to work on Sundays.
The shop workers' union, Usdaw, said, if necessary, it would vigorously defend its members' rights at industrial tribunals.
Shops breaking the new law faced a fine of up to £50,000.
And any action which was due to be taken against some under the 1950 Shops Act was abandoned.
While many of the bigger stores had been all for opening, others were vehemently against the move.
Marks & Spencer reluctantly opened a handful of its stores for the first time to avoid losing market share.
Along with House of Fraser and supermarket Waitrose, they were the only major chains to open branches on Sundays for the first time ever.
