SHOPS in Worcester are to be allowed to open 24 hours a day, Monday-to-Saturday, when they reopen after the lockdown ends at just after midnight on Wednesday, December 2.

Worcester City Council agreed to the measure after communities secretary Robert Jenrick MP called on councils across the country to allow round-the-clock opening to support the retail sector in the festive season.

The move gives Worcester businesses the chance to increase their trading hours from now until the end of January. It will also increase the opportunity for shoppers to spread out their visits to city retailers, helping them maintain social distancing and assisting in the continuing fall in the city’s number of Covid cases.

City Council leader Councillor Marc Bayliss, said: “After a year like no other, our city’s shops need all the help they can get so I’m delighted we can give our retailers the go-ahead to stay open 24 hours a day. I hope it will give them the chance to build their trade back up, claw back some of the losses they’ve suffered, and bring a little festive cheer to shoppers across our city.”

The temporary arrangement will be in place until the end of January.

There will be no change to Sunday opening hours or licensing arrangements – so alcohol cannot be sold outside of the hours in retailers’ existing licences.