A STEP in the long walk to city status is being taken by Newport's shop-owners. Sunday shopping starts in earnest this weekend with more than 20 of the town's major stores throwing open their doors.

And there will be free parking in some of the town's car parks on Sundays in a bid to lure in more shoppers.

Newport town centre partnership manager Malcolm Hall said: "We will have shops such as Marks & Spencer, Index, Littlewoods and WH Smith open on Sunday from this weekend.

"We would like to think that people would look to come into Newport perhaps after lunch on Sunday to have a browse around the shops and also do some shopping.

"People will be able to get everything from a Sunday newspaper to a hi-fi if they want and things they may need for the following Monday all in a relaxed atmosphere."

Mr Hall believes the success of Sunday shopping in Newport could add weight to Newport's bid for city status and also make prospective investors in the town more keen. He said as other centres in the Gwent area, including places such as Blackwood and Cwmbran, open on a Sunday, Newport has to follow suit or lose out.

He said: "Once people change their shopping habits it is extremely difficult to change them back we need them to get into the habit of shopping in Newport on a Sunday." Mr Hall said the aim of the drive is to retain Sunday opening throughout the year but this would only happen if traders find the exercise worthwhile.

He said events such as the "shopping festival" is planned for the October half term week (22-27) and theme evenings will again be staged on Thursday in Newport in the six-week run up to Christmas.

Eve Williams, president of Newport Chamber of Trade, which in the main represents smaller and independent traders said: "It is important that this initiative is supported and that there is significant footfall in the centre.

"Small traders will get encouragement from the success of the Sunday opening of the larger traders and may well follow suit if this is a success."

Sue Davies, manager of The Body Shop in Commercial Street which is offering free face painting for children this Sunday, said: "Shopping in Newport on a Sunday is a whole different experience to in the week, it is quite relaxed and quiet."

Some of Newport's smaller, independent operators are known to be keen to take advantage of the Sunday opening but, with the increased overheads and staff costs, it is thought they would need to feel it is economically viable before they too throw open their doors all weekend.