A further ten are also on the closure list, the company has stated, but may be taken over by franchises.

It's the first of what Schleich has said will be 'many initiatives it is delivering to retailers this year,' echoing the 'major uplift in marketing support' the company is offering its retail partners this year.

The accolade was handed to founder Gary Grant at a ceremony held last night at Grosvenor House in London, where the retailer was praised by judges for its ‘ability to innovate and thrive,’ in what has been a tough space for toys.

In a first for the retailer, the digital edition will allow customers to search for items and browse each, as live prices are shown. These items can be added to a customer's basket and taken to the check out straight from the catalogue.

This news arrives after the US based company posted a $17.9 million loss for the year to February 2, 2019 and a global decline in revenue of 7.5 per cent.

As part of the £13.5 million group acquisition by The Entertainer, Early Learning Centre will now be joining the Addo Play portfolio of brands.

The Entertainer founder and executive chairman, Gary Grant, added: “We are delighted to add ELC to The Entertainer family."

Kicking off at the retailer's flagship London store in Staples Corner, and rolling out at Smyths locations across the UK, the toy shop welcomed upwards of 3,000 visitors with a party over a two-day event.

Coinciding with National Science Week, the show played host to some 200 organisations, many of those from across the toy and children’s brands space, and welcomed around 80,000 visitors from schools from across the UK.

The 10-week advertising partnership, which went live on Spotify in the UK from last week, is designed to place the brand front of mind for UK parents.

Children at Demelza Hospice were delighted to receive the 11kg rocking toy, donated by Izabela Hailey of Green Own Toys, marking both the 10th anniversary of the toy firm, and the hospice itself.

A media partnership with DC Thomson Media, who, through its 110% gaming and Sweet magazines, will reach a wide audience with competitions and content on their pages in issues running into the summer holidays, as well as activity on social channels.

Fundraising to date (which began in November 2018 with Generation Media’s KidCon18) has surpassed £2,000 and will continue through to the Toy Trust Big Challenge 2019 where the aim is to have at least 10 participants in events ranging from the 5km Walk to the Triathlon.

Launching on Saturday, April 6th at intu Lakeside, the Play Big Tour will run until April 20th and will visit five shopping centres in total, including Westfield, intu Merry Hill, intu Metrocentre and intu Milton Keynes.

Clarke - who has backed a Brexit delay - has held various significant Ministerial posts including Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary, and remains a lively commentator and speaker.

The fifth birthday event is confirmed to take place on Thursday, April 4th and will celebrate with a menu of Board Game Club favourites from the past five years, as well as with some newer titles.