MOTHERCARE has named former Littlewoods boss Mark Newton-Jones as its interim chief executive.

Mr Newton-Jones, who led online and catalogue retailer Shop Direct for almost a decade, also spent 18 years in a number of senior roles at Next.

He will join Mothercare on March 17 to succeed Simon Calver who quit last month after less than two years in the role.

That came just weeks after a profit warning showing Mr Calver's plans to revive the group were faltering.

Shares closed up 2.75p, or 1%, at 238p.