A NORTH-EAST Labour MP last night called on the Government to protect shop workers on Christmas Day.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, raised fears of some shop staff being forced to work on the day, even if they have families.

In a Commons motion, he said that the vast majority of shop workers were parents who should be able to spend Christmas with their children.

Dr Kumar regretted that "many shops remain open on Christmas Day because employers put undue pressure on shop workers to abandon their family responsibilities."