YORK'S Mothercare store - which only opened six months ago at Monks Cross - is to close after the UK retail business went into administration.

There will be a phased closure of all of the firm's 79 UK stores, administrators from PwC said.

The UK firm "has been loss making for a number of years", but international franchises are profitable, PwC said.

On Monday the baby goods firm said it was "not capable" of being sufficiently profitable and that it had failed to find a buyer.

Joint administrator Zelf Hussain said: "This is a sad moment for a well-known High Street name," adding that Mothercare "has been hit hard by increasing cost pressures and changes in consumer spending."

"It's with real regret that we have to implement a phased closure of all UK stores. Our focus will be to help employees and keep the stores trading for as long as possible," Mr Hussain said.

The Monks Cross store was officially opened by special guest Peppa Pig on May 23, creating 30 jobs, after the firm's old store at Clifton Moor had shut in September last year.

The new purpose built 18,703 sq ft Mothercare store took up part of the old British Home Stores unit.

The branch stocked brands such as My K by Myleene Klass, Little Bird Clothing by Jools Oliver and a range of prams and accessories including Bugaboo, Silver Cross and iCandy. The store also open with a Baby Bond, where expectant mothers could have their pregnancy scans.

The closure of the York store is just the latest blow to the city's retail offer.

The Press revealed last week that Bonmarché was to close, and the Dorothy Perkins/Burtons store in Coney Street shut in September, Gap in Davygate shut last month and Debenhams department store is to close in December.