Children's clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch is the latest victim of the high street spending squeeze to collapse into administration.

The young fashion chain has 36 stores across the UK, including Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, and Bluewater. The Kent shops are continuing to trade normally while administrators at Deloitte try to find a buyer.

Five stores (Cambridge, Cheshire Oaks, Leeds, Swindon and Uxbridge) have already closed with the loss of 55 jobs. Five more have gone at the company's UK head office in Reading.

Pumpkin Patch, founded in 1990, employs 400 people in the UK. It also has operations in Ireland and internationally, with its parent based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Only Pumpkin Patch Limited is involved in insolvency proceedings and the online and non-UK operations are not affected.

Joint administrator Daniel Butters said: "Pumpkin Patch Limited has suffered as a result of the unprecedented and prolonged downturn being experienced in the UK retail sector. We will continue to trade the business while we explore all strategic options."

In addition to the store closures, five employees were made redundant at the head office in Reading.

Pumpkin Patch follows Barratts, La Senza, Past Times, Hawkin's Bazaar and Peacocks into administration.