Mothercare in Sutton’s St Nicholas Centre has launched a closing down sale as the retailer shuts several stores in a bid to make crucial savings.

The branch in this borough is one of several being closed across south London and further afield, with 60 of its 137 UK outlets being shut.

It has identified savings of around £19 million through the closure process, leaving it with 77 remaining by summer 2019 - nearly half of its portfolio.

Mothercare posted an 11 percent decline in UK like-for-like revenues during the six months to October 6, with total sales in the country dropping 14.3 percent to £196.2 million.

That was a pre-tax loss of £14.4 million, not far behind the £16.8 million recorded last year.

The retailer said the poor showings reflect “wider market uncertainty and negative brand coverage”, related to its restructuring programme.

But it’s also one of several facing financial problems, particularly during 2018, and is shutting shops through a controversial insolvency procedure known as a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).