traders say Bluewater is "crucifying Christmas" by forcing them to open on Boxing Day.

Shop bosses say they are being ordered to open by the centre's management even though most do not want to.

They say celebrations are ruined because shop staff work hard right up to Christmas Eve and are forced back to work on Boxing Day.

And one trader says his store has been fined for closing early on Christmas Eve and would face further fines if it closed on Boxing Day.

Assistant manager of Accessorize Peter Scott says his area manager was informed Bluewater's management would target the store again if it closed on Boxing Day.

He says traders' hands are tied when it comes to the opening.

He said: "They (Bluewater management) always try and claim the majority of shops want to open but I have never been sure."

Manager of Lacoste clothes store John Turley says all shop managers received a letter telling them they would be in breach of their contract if they do not open.

But he says there is nothing in the contract about Boxing Day opening which last year saw 100,000 people head to the centre to bag a sale bargain.

Mr Turley says shops have been forced to open on Boxing Day since 2003 because anchor store Marks & Spencer (M&S) wanted to.

Now this year, the nationwide department store, which is understood to have a different lease, is closing leaving smaller shops in the lurch.

M&S declined to comment when contacted by News Shopper.

Mr Turley says profits do not increase by opening an extra day because the money taken is simply divided between the Boxing Day and December 27.

And he feels the opening is not fair on young staff from broken families because they miss out on sharing Christmas with both parents.

Mr Turley said: "No-one really wants to do it.

"We are just standing there looking at each other saying oh well, happy Christmas'.

"It's just awful, Bluewater just wants to crucify Christmas."

Another trader, who did not want to be named, said it took her two hours to get to work last Boxing Day from Gravesend because of the amount of traffic.

The traders spoke out after News Shopper reported last week how residents were opposing Boxing Day opening.

Gwen Tripp, of Pilgrims View, Greenhithe, said the traffic was making residents' lives a misery.

She has been joined by the Rev Richard Barron, of St Mary's Church, Greenhithe, who says two days holiday at Christmas is not too much to ask.

He said: "Too little value is put on the family and too much pressure is put on them."

Despite being given more than two days, Bluewater failed to answer queries relating to the fining of stores, whether closing on Boxing Day would be in breach of contract and whether M&S forced other stores to open.

All a spokesman would say was: "Demand to open on Boxing Day is driven by shoppers and retailers.

"The decision to open on Boxing Day 2005 was taken by the Bluewater Retailer Partnership, a group representing the 330 Bluewater retailers, at a meeting in May."