Fears for jobs as Mothercare announces plans to put business into administration

The well known chain has 79 stores, including one in Meadowhall.

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There are now fears for thousands for jobs.

The retailer, which specialises in items for babies and children, said it will file a notice of intent to appoint administrators for the UK business later today.

Mothercare UK slumped to a £36.9 million loss in the financial year to March, as it has struggled amid a period of turmoil for high street retailers.

The retailer, which has around 500 full-time staff and 2,000 part-time employees, is set to follow the likes of Bonmarche, Jack Wills and Karen Millen, which have gone bust in recent months.

The global Mothercare group said it has undertaken a review of the UK business and found that it is ‘not capable of returning to a level of structural profitability’.

It said the business is therefore unable to satisfy the cash needs of the UK arm and is therefore filing the notice as part of the restructuring and refinancing process.

Mothercare added that the listed group remains profitable despite the problems facing its UK division.

Shares in the parent company dived by 29.2 per cent to 8p in early trading today.

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More to follow.