CHILDREN'S store Mothercare has announced another nine shop closures.

This follows the earlier announcement that a total of 60 shops will be shut by June next year, putting 900 jobs at risk.

It is not currently known what stores will be shut, but in Essex there are stores in Basildon and Chelmsford.

Clive Whiley, Mothercare's interim executive chairman, said: "The last three months of hard work and progress have put in place the foundations to get Mothercare back to where it should be as a fit-for-purpose business with a stronger and more efficient structure both for our UK business and our international franchisees."

The extra Mothercare store closures mainly come from its Childrens World division, which will go into administration.

Mothercare bought the Childrens World chain in 1996, and rebranded the stores as Mothercare.

Although the Childrens World division is being wound up, 13 of its 22 stores will transfer to other Mothercare group companies and stay open.

There was an attempt to save the stores, but it did not amass enough support, prompting the decision to close the division down.