Business bosses back the Government in wanting to keep Christmas special in Essex this year - and close up shop.

An Institute of Directors survey found 89 per cent of company heads do not support Christmas day working and 93 per cent per cent let their staff home early on Christmas Eve.

This is in line with the Government decision to ban big stores from opening on Christmas Day, while allowing some smaller shops to, many run by non-Christians.

The staff Christmas party is still alive and kicking, too. Some 84 per cent of directors said they continued to hold an office party for their staff.

But Essex IoD chairman Nicholas Cook said: "They tend to be a little less rauacous than they once were for a variety of reasons."

The majority of small and medium-size businesses are expected to resume work on Wednesday, December 29 before the New Year's bank holiday begins.

Published Thursday December 23, 2004

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