A BABY shop which closed suddenly leaving dozens of mums-tobe fearing they would lose their money has gone bust, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Owner of Little Angels Prams in Shirley Precinct Don Jenkings has filed for bankruptcy.

Official receivers have been into the family-owned shop to secure the site and remove stock.

They say it is still too early to know whether the scores of parents, who have collectively paid thousands of pounds for prams and baby equipment in advance, will get their money back.

Dozens of expectant mums, some due to give birth this week and desperate to transport their babies from hospital, fear how they will afford to pay for another pram before they give birth.

Mum-of-three boys Emma Hopkins, from Bitterne, who is due on December 7, lives in Germany with her husband Jason who serves with the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment’s 1st Battalion known as the Tigers.

She paid £675 in instalments for a top of the range buggy with car seat when she came back to Southampton to see her family.

Now she is unsure if she will get all of her money back and does not know how she will afford another one.

The 27-year-old said: “We wanted to buy something from back home because we know of the shop. To pay out another lump sum is going to be difficult.

“I feel angry but more gutted than anything. It is a lot of money before Christmas especially having the three boys.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, the shop mysteriously closed its shutters on Thursday October 28 with a note reading: “Closing early today, Thursday 1pm, sorry.”

Another mum Laura Browning, 34, from Millbrook, paid £600 in cash for a pram and other equipment. She said: “I am due to have the baby in two weeks. We were due to pick it up but the shutters were closed.

This is just terrible. I’m shocked.

There was no indication. He seemed so kind and helpful.”

Mum Lisa Burden, 29, of Eastleigh already bought a car seat for her ten-month-old son Benjamin but can’t use it because the metal spring has come out and he has to be taken for an operation next week.

She said: “I wanted to try and take it back because it looks like a fault but now it seems I will have to pay for another one. He has to go to hospital. It’s a shame we’ve been kept in the dark.”

Mr Jenkings traded at the Shirley site for 19 years. He previously worked for Ford in Southampton for 22 years.

He has not returned calls from the Daily Echo.

The shop’s website reads: “A new eShop is currently under construction.”

■ Have you been affected by the sudden closure of Little Angels Prams? Contact Tara Russell on 023 8042 4495 or email newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk.

What should I do if I have been affected?

RECEIVERS of Little Angels Prams say creditors and customers of the shop should get in contact with the Southampton Official Receivers Office to get a proof of debt form.

A spokesman said it was too early to say if all mums will get their money back. They also said it was too early to say how much the company owed in debts.

For more information and advice contact: Mrs C Parker-Smith Official Receivers Office Suite A, Waterside House, Town Quay, Southampton SO14 3AQ or ring 023 8083 1600.