Marks and Spencer and Boots have announced they will open between 10.30am and 4.30pm from 2 April.

Two other major city-centre stores are also due to make a decision on seven day trading in the next few weeks.

The move comes 15 months after the City Centre Company launched full scale Sunday trading and will give the initiative fresh impetus.

John Dorrington, Marks and Spencer store manager, said the company had carefully monitored Coventry’s Sunday trading before deciding to join.

He said: 

"We have been watching with interest the development of Sunday trading in Coventry because we wanted to see the progress it made. We have been impressed with the efforts of the City Centre Company in making Coventry a more desirable destination for shopping.

"Hopefully the fact Marks and Spencer and Boots are coming on board will help that even further. We feel we have a responsibility to improve the choice of shopping in Coventry so more and more people visit the city centre."

At present only out-of-town-stores and a few major city centre shops open on Sundays throughout the year.

Mr Dorrington added: 

"The fact that there is free car parking in West Orchards makes a difference for us and I think the City Centre Company are doing everything it can to make sure Sundays are a success. We just want to support that."

City Centre Company chief executive Liz Millett said Sunday trading had gone well but the decision of the two stores would make Coventry more appealing to weekend shoppers.

She said:

"We have had good support from many stores and the news that Marks and Spencer and Boots are joining will be good news for everyone.

"They are both big names which will draw people in and help increase trade for all the shops that already open.

"We have a series of events planned for this year and all the work is directed towards making Coventry a desirable Sunday venue for shoppers thereby increasing trade and the vibrancy of the city centre."