CHRISTIANS in East Lancashire have given a mixed response to plans to allow local councils to decide on Sunday trading laws.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons that the changes will end the 'Whitehall knows best' approach, with central government unable to enforce the new rules on any area.

Outside the Commons, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis), confirmed local authorities will be able to restrict the longer hours to certain zones - such as high streets and city centres.

Labour accused Mr Javid of a "gross abuse of power" for failing to publish the proposals in the Enterprise Bill put before MPs on Tuesday.

Dean of Blackburn the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, described it as 'regrettable'.

He said: “It just nibbles away at the value of one rest day a week which we all need. It takes us away from the norm of Europe where shops are closed on Sundays with very few exceptions.

“I think the decision-making process will be more vulnerable as pressure groups can influence local councils one way or another.”

John Kay, a preacher at Blacko Evangelical Chapel, said he believed that Christians should not work on Sunday but emphasised it was important that individuals are able to choose.

He added: “I don’t purchase anything and I don’t sell anything and I don’t do any work on the Lord’s Day which I see as Sunday.

“That’s my view. But if I am travelling and I have to get diesel then I get diesel so we are hypocritical. “So long as the individual person can decide whether they work or not then that’s all right.”