Mothercare on Monday announced plans to put its UK retail business, which has 79 stores, into administration, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

In a statement this morning, Mothercare said: “Mothercare announces that Notices of Intent to appoint administrators to the Company’s active trading subsidiary, Mothercare UK Limited and Mothercare Business Services Limited, which provides certain services to Mothercare UK, are being filed with the Court today. 

“It is emphasised that the Company and its other subsidiaries are not covered by these notices of intent. The Group, Mothercare UK and MBS will be free to continue to trade in the normal course of business.”

The firm’s UK business has been unprofitable for more than a decade and fell to a £36.3million loss last year sparking a mass of closures.
The struggling retailer under a controversial company voluntary arrangement (CVA), has been trying to sell its UK arm for a while.

In January, it warned of a “challenging period” after even digital sales at the retailer dropped 16.3% .