JOBS are at risk at a Colchester shop after a national chain announced 111 store closures across the country.

Mothercare, which also owns the Early Learning Centre, said it would be focusing on 200 of its profitable stores during a trading update published today.

In the statement the company said 36 Mothercare and 75 Early Learning Centre stores would close, in addition to 65 shops already closed in the past year, but would not confirm which specific stores would close.

Of the remaining stores, 105 would be town centre outlets.

Mothercare was unable to confirm how many staff work at the Early Learning Centre store in Culver Square, Colchester, or at the Mothercare store in Pier Avenue, Clacton.

Stores earmarked for closure will cease trading over the next three years, depending on when leases come up for renewal.

Alan Parker, executive chairman of Mothercare, said: “Since November a significant amount of progress has been made across the business.

“Today we have announced the framework of our decisive three year strategy to restore the UK business back to profit and strengthen our foundations for growth. This will see us operate a lean, more competitive business, focused on the existing profitable stores in a smaller UK portfolio, combined with a state of the art online platform.”