A BOURNEMOUTH campaigner for deregulation of Sunday trading laws has vowed to keep fighting despite the government's decision not to change the hours of trade.

The first official review in more than a decade showed "no substantial demand" for change, according to Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, referring to consultation with consumers, religious groups, employees and businesses.

But David Ramsden, of Queens Park Avenue chairman of the Deregulate lobby group, which is calling for stores to be given the freedom to choose their own Sunday opening hours said he is "highly disappointed and somewhat angry" at the decision.

"I think that a lot of retailers and consumers are going to be very cross because it appears that the government has now done a U-turn," he said, adding that three separate surveys showed roughly 60 per cent of people want longer Sunday shopping hours.

"We haven't lost the fight," he said.

"Customers will get what they want in the end."

Deregulate's members include Ikea, Next and Asda.

Sunday shopping hours in large stores will remain capped at six continual hours between 10am and 6pm.

Large stores will also continue to close on Easter Sunday, while small shops will still be free to trade without restrictions every Sunday.

Usdaw said thousands of its members had written to MPs in recent months, urging them to oppose any increase in Sunday opening hours.

A recent survey by the union of 4,000 retail staff showed that four out of five had to work on Sundays and virtually all of them opposed any extension to the six-hour limit because they wanted to spend time with their families.

Father Anthony Pennicott, the Roman Catholic Dean of Bournemouth, said that he does not mind whether shops are open or closed all day on Sundays, because the UK is a multi-faith country.

"The critical thing is that Christians should be allowed Sundays off, Jews should be allowed Saturdays off and Muslims should be allowed Fridays off," he said.

"At the moment, they are technically allowed, but if they ask, they the employers will moan about it or move them to a job where there's not so much money or sometimes make it difficult for them."