A children’s clothing store chain with three outlets in the county has gone into administration for the second time in a year.

JS Childrenswear, which trades under the Adams brand name, has more than 120 stores across the UK, including three in Kent at Hempstead Valley, Gillingham, The Forum, Sittingbourne, and The Mall Chequers, Maidstone.

The 75-year-old business, which employs more than 2,000 staff, is trading normally while a buyer is sought.

In January 2009, the Nuneaton-based business and assets of Adams Childrenswear were sold to JS Childrenswear, a newly formed company backed by John Shannon, following a period in administration. Mr Shannon went on to sell the company to Habib Alvi Investments Limited under the control of a Mr Syed Sabur Ali.

Adams is one of the largest independent childrenswear retailers in the UK, which at its height had 271 own brand stores and concessions throughout the UK trading under Adams Kids. The company also supplies Boots with the 'Mini Mode' own brand range.

Paul Clark and Matt Bond, partners at MCR, have been appointed joint administrators, with Ian Yerrill of Gerald Edelman. Mr Clark said: "Like many retailers, it has experienced a difficult trading environment during the course of the past 12 months which has been exacerbated by a further downturn and general tightening of the credit markets."

He added: "We fully appreciate the difficult position in which the staff find themselves so soon after Christmas. We are grateful for the assistance that we have received so far.

"The company is trading as normal at present while all options are considered. This has involved contact being made with the essential suppliers, many of whom have been unpaid for some time.

"We are now looking at the viability of the business with a view to securing a going concern sale."