The deadline for businesses wanting to apply for Sunday Christmas opening has been extended until Friday.

By Wednesday last week only one business, The Phoenix Store, had applied to open on the two Sundays before Christmas, leading to the Finance Minister Eugene Cox urging businesses to get their applications in before yesterday's deadline.

Yesterday, Government revealed eight stores had applied to open on December 16 and 23 and the deadline was extended to Friday this week.

Shops granted permission will be allowed to open between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. in line with the Sunday trading hours for large supermarkets.

Applications should be sent to the Registrar of Companies in the Government Administration building in Parliament Street.