THE boss of a baby equipment shop hit by two more mystery closures has vowed to try and reopen the stores.

The Bournemouth branch of JKUK shut last week and shops in Southampton and Portsmouth were yesterday locked up.

Director Dave Truscott said last night the firm had been forced to close the Hampshire stores but would not say why.

More than 100 people have lodged complaints with trading standards that goods have not arrived or refunds have not been paid.

A note on the door of the Bournemouth store advised people to contact the Southampton branch.

Nicola Hurll of Normanhurst Avenue, Queens Park, Bournemouth, expecting her second child in days, paid £400 for a pram which never arrived and is still waiting for her money back. She said: “We went last Saturday and found it shut down. I was absolutely distraught.”

Grandmother-to-be, Jean Trickett, 56, of Runnymeade Avenue, Bearwood, spent £950 on baby furniture and a pushchair.

She said: “I feel very cross. I don’t think the goods are going to turn up.”

Mr Truscott said JKUK was not in administration, and said the Bournemouth store in Wimborne Road, Winton, had been shut as part of “consolidation programme”.

He said: “We’re trying hard to get the Southampton and Portsmouth stores open again by Monday.

“We are trying not let any of our customers down.”

Southampton City Council trading standards said it was trying to contact the business holders and would then be able to advise people.

Teacher Carrie Steele, 36, from Winton, said she got a £150 cash refund personally delivered soon after appearing in an earlier Daily Echo story on JKUK.