Trading Statement

Mothercare PLC
31 March 2005


31 March 2005


                                 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 ended 26 March 2005.

                             11 Weeks to     24 Weeks to        52 Weeks to
                             26 March 2005   26 March 2005      26 March 2005
UK Store Sales (%)           +1.6               +0.5               +0.8
UK Store like-for-like (%)   +1.1               +0.1               +1.3

For the 11 week period to 26 March 2005, since our trading statement in January,
total UK store sales increased by 1.6% compared to the same period last year
with UK store like-for-like sales up 1.1%. For the 24 weeks to 26 March 2005,
representing the second half of the year, total UK store sales increased by 0.5%
with UK store like-for-like sales up 0.1%.

Sales in our International business were up 18.0% for the 24 weeks to 26 March
2005, up 17.3% for the full year to 26 March 2005. We opened an additional 30
stores in the year bringing our total number internationally to 220.

Gross margins are in line with expectations.

The construction of the new National Distribution Centre is progressing to plan
and we are due to transfer the first stage of our operation in June 2005. There
will be an operating exceptional item relating to the costs associated with the
re-organisation of the distribution network of some £6.5m in the financial year
to 26 March 2005.

We have also made a special contribution of £10m to our company pension schemes.

We expect the outturn for the year to be in line with market expectations.

Ben Gordon, Chief Executive said:

'The performance of the UK business has been resilient in the tougher trading
environment. We are continuing to work hard on turning the business round and
developing the Mothercare brand for the future. We are also encouraged by the
growth of our international business, demonstrating the strength of the
Mothercare brand worldwide.'

The full financial performance for the year (52 weeks to 26 March 2005) will be
reported when Mothercare Preliminary results are announced on 19 May 2005.

Enquiries to:

Mothercare plc
Ben Gordon, Chief Executive                          01923 206000
Steven Glew, Finance Director                        01923 206187

Brunswick Group Limited
Catherine Hicks/Anna Jones                           020 7404 5959






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