A backlash against moves to remove recommended prices from the dust jackets of all books sold in Britain has made it hard for WH Smith and other big store chains to go ahead, according to yesterday's Bookseller magazine.

The trade's leading journal said a high profile campaign last week by award-winning writers and literary agents has at least put a brake on progress towards change.

Authors and their agents fear the move would intensify the price cutting war between chain stores over a small number of bestsellers, marginalise most other books and drive down the already low income of writers.

The plan is to abolish the publishers' recommended retail price (RRP) on the cover of books, which at present discourages shops from marketing them like fish fingers in a supermarket.

The Bookseller said the idea was put forward by the US-owned Borders chain. WH Smith's executive director, Trevor Goul-Wheeler, privately backs it, but his chain and Waterstone's are expected to delay decisions until a trade working party issues its report.

The internet bookshop Amazon.co.uk has joined opponents of the scheme. It told the magazine that recommended retail prices gave customers a crucial point of reference when comparing prices. Abolition would only help stores which wanted to raise prices by stealth, it added.