Toy shop staff’s £3m tip

MORE than 1,700 staff at toy retailer The Entertainer will share a record £3m bonus – an average of £1,760 each.

The High Street chain – which last week bought the Early Learning Centre (ELC) from Mothercare for £13.5m – announced the payment after annual profits jumped 31pc to £15.1m.

The bonus pot is far higher than the previous year’s £1.9m. Sales in stores rose 12.3pc last year while online sales saw a boost of 38pc.

Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman, said: ‘ Our ambitious growth agenda will continue after an exciting start to the year with the ELC acquisition.’

The retailer, founded in 1981, employs 1,530 staff across 163 stores and 211 at its Buckinghamshire HQ.