More than 500 staff from a Stoke-on-Trent pottery manufacturer are being given the day off to recover from the Euro 2020 final.

Portmeirion has told employees that they will not need to go into work on Monday, July 12, and use the day to celebrate – or commiserate – the result of England’s clash with Italy.

The game – which kicks off at 8pm on Sunday – is the first time England have made it to the final of an international football tournament since winning the World Cup in 1966.

Now shop floor, office and distribution centre staff at Portmeirion – including management – will take the day off on Monday.

While employees who are required to work in the company’s retail stores will receive an extra lieu day.

A spokesperson for Portmeirion Group said: “Our staff have shown enormous resilience and have worked tirelessly over the last 18 months as we have had to adapt our working practices to deal with the challenges of the pandemic.

“As many of our team are England fans, and are keen to celebrate England’s first major final since 1966, as a token of our gratitude, the management team has decided to give the whole Stoke-on-Trent workforce the day off on Monday to hopefully continue celebrating with their friends and families.”

Elsewhere in Stoke-on-Trent, clay manufacturer Valentine Clays is also giving staff some time off to recover from the big game.

The company is allowing staff to work a half-day on Monday – for a full day’s pay.

It means employees will be able to start work at 12pm rather than 8am.

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Company director Hannah Ault, said: “We are huge football fans and so are our staff. We are also very conscious that all of our employees have been working tirelessly through Covid too, and after 55 years, to actually be in the Euros final is a massive deal for ourselves and everyone within our company.

“We have already given out ‘football is coming home’ packs and rearranged the working day so staff could leave early for the game against Germany, so it only seemed fair that in celebration of England’s amazing achievement and to acknowledge how hard our staff have been working that we give them half a day’s holiday so everyone can enjoy Sunday.”

Earlier today, BusinessLive reported how the British Chambers of Commerce is urging businesses across England to be flexible and give employees “allowances” on Monday after “such a tough 15 months.”

The call comes after a petition was launched to encourage Prime Minister Boris Johnson to declare a Bank Holiday on July 12 if England win.