Outdoor retailer Blacks has announced plans to shed up to 60 jobs at its Northampton headquarters following worse-than-expected profits.

Despite the Blacks chain posting sales 5.4 per cent up on last year, and its sister shops Millets selling even more – at 7.8 per cent up – its share price fell 10p to 150p on news that its ‘surf’ brands Freespirit and O’Neill had been hit by poor sales.

Blacks Leisure, the parent company, issued a post-Christmas profit warning and said it would need to cut £3m from its costs. Staff levels at its stores may also be cut.