Just under half of shoppers support permanent longer Sunday shopping hours, according to a survey.
The poll found 45% of consumers supported extended Sunday trading, with 24% believing it would provide a boost to the UK economy, business law firm DWF said. Of those who backed the longer opening hours, 83% said shops should be allowed to open on Sundays without any restrictions at all.
Current legislation allows shops in England and Wales of more than 280 square metres to open for a maximum of six hours on a Sunday between 10am and 6pm. There are no restrictions on Sunday trading in Scotland.
But the restrictions have been suspended until the end of the Olympics and Paralympics on September 9.
The poll found that although 82% of shoppers were aware of the relaxation of the rules, just 24% had taken advantage of them so far.
It found that 39% of people believed the Government would eventually relax Sunday trading rules permanently, with 22% saying they would shop more on a Sunday if the change became permanent, while 16% said shops should not be allowed to open at all on Sundays.
DWF head of retail Hilary Ross said: "Given the need to stimulate the economy, the commitment to cutting red tape and strong employee protection laws coupled with the Scottish experience, it is difficult to see the justification for continuing to regulate Sunday trading in the current way.
"It is easy to forget that this legislation, which is now viewed as restricting Sunday trading, was originally introduced as part of deregulation in the early 1990s allowing shops to open on Sundays. At that time, concerns were raised about the interests of employees and the traditional character of Sundays.
"However the Auld Committee concluded that the benefits of deregulation, particularly in terms of providing retailer flexibility and customer convenience, would outweigh any adverse effects. Some 20 years on the same is true."
She added: "Our research provides a call to action for the Government. Many consumers clearly think the laws on Sunday trading in England and Wales are in need of modernisation to meet the needs of a modern multicultural society and the changing face of retail."
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