Value women's fashion retailer, Bonmarché, has issued its third profit warning in six months, saying it will suffer a bigger loss than anticipated this year, following difficult trading in March.

The company, which has stores in Gloucester, Lydney and Lechlade, said it previously expected an underlying loss of up to £4m, but is now expecting between £5m and £6m , as reported by Retail Gazette.

The news meant shares in Bonmarché plunged by 14 per cent.

The retailer said Christmas sales were just above the mark required to hit its previous forecast, but March has seen much weaker sales growth. But Bonmarché said it was not suffering from cash problems and expects to continue with a positive net cash balance into 2020.