Trading Statement

Mothercare PLC
06 April 2006



6 April 2006

                                  MOTHERCARE PLC
                            PRE CLOSE TRADING UPDATE


Mothercare plc today issued the following update on trading. The statement is
being made in respect of Mothercare's year (53 weeks) ended 1 April 2006. All
figures in the statement are comparable with the same number of weeks in the
prior period.


Group performance


Group sales for the 12 weeks to 1 April 2006 were up 5.6%. Group sales for the
25 weeks to 1 April 2006 were up 4.8% and for the 53 weeks to 1 April 2006, were
up 3.7%.


UK store like for like sales were up 0.2% for the 12 weeks to 1 April 2006.
After adjusting for the timing of Easter, UK store like for like sales were up
by an estimated 1.2% for the 12 weeks.


We expect both the gross margin and the profit outturn for the full year to be
in line with market estimates.


UK performance

                           12 Weeks to        25 Weeks to            53 Weeks to
                          1 April 2006       1 April 2006           1 April 2006
Total UK sales %               +2.0%             +2.2%                  +1.5%
UK store sales %               +0.9%             +1.2%                  +0.9%
UK store sales
like-for-like %                +0.2%             +0.4%                  -0.3%


Our UK business continues to grow steadily and we have seen strong sales growth
from the Direct business confirming the importance of our multi channel
strategy.


We expect the overall market to remain challenging in the coming months and
whilst our trading performance is encouraging, like most retailers we face
rising occupancy, employee and utility costs.

International performance

                            12 Weeks to       25 Weeks to           53 Weeks to
                           1 April 2006      1 April 2006          1 April 2006
                                                      
Total International 
sales %                        +28.5%             +23.4%               +20.1%


Our International business continues to grow rapidly and 46 franchise stores
were added during the year.


Ben Gordon, Chief Executive said:


'We continue to improve Mothercare's trading capability and we are pleased that
the company is performing strongly. The resilience of the UK business in a
difficult trading environment reflects the actions we have taken to develop
Mothercare's position as a specialist multi-channel retailer. Our international
expansion continues apace, reinforcing the strength of the Mothercare brand
worldwide.'


The full financial performance for the year (53 weeks to 1 April 2006) will be
reported when the Mothercare Plc Preliminary Results are announced on 24 May
2006.


Enquiries to:


Mothercare plc

Ben Gordon, Chief Executive                               01923 206001
Neil Harrington, Finance Director                         01923 206140


Brunswick Group
Susan Gilchrist/Catherine Hicks                         020 7404 5959






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