A BID to offer seven-day trading in Darlington has received a setback after one of the town's main shopping areas decided not to open on a Sunday.

Business leaders have been pressing shopkeepers to open on Sundays to prevent shoppers going elsewhere.

It followed a report that revealed only 20 town centre stores open in Darlington on a Sunday, even though 50 per cent of people nationally prefer to shop on the seventh day of the week.

But plans to establish Darlington as a Sunday trading town have now been hit by the news that the Queen Street shopping arcade will definitely not open.

The management of the centre decided it will not be worthwhile opening until at least 60 per cent of the centre wants to trade. At present this is not the case.

The decision also affects businesses such as Next, which will be unable to open because one of its entrances is within the Queen Street mall.

Darlington Chamber of Trade president Albion Small believes the town risks losing trade for ever unless shopkeepers all open on Sunday.

He said: "I think a number of retailers are missing the boat and the worry is that the people who go elsewhere to shop on Sunday might then not do their shopping in Darlington during the week.

"Trading in the Cornmill Shopping Centre has been high on Sundays and what is needed now is a united front to show that seven-day trading can be a success in Darlington."

The Cornmill shopping centre is currently trading on Sunday with 26 per cent of the units open.

The Cornmill Traders' Association feels the fact that half of the centre is not operating is portraying a poor image to the public.

As a result, Sunday trading will be reviewed at the association's annual general meeting on July 21, and it is hoped that traders who are not currently open will be persuaded to throw open their doors seven days a week.