Travis Perkins is cutting 600 jobs and closing more than 30 branches as it warns of “uncertain” trading in the year ahead.

The builders’ merchant, which owns the Wickes brand, said those affected had already been informed.

The job losses come across its trade brands such as Travis Perkins, Benchmarx, and plumbing and heating businesses BSS and PTS.

The company said it hoped to relocate some of the staff.

Wickes and its other consumer-facing business Toolstation are not affected.

Under the plans, ten smaller distribution centres will also close.

According to the company’s chief executive, John Carter, “It is still too early to predict customer demand in 2017 with certainty and we will continue to monitor our lead indicators closely.