A party shop is to close in a cull of a retailer’s “untenable real estate”.

Pure Party in Stevenage Westgate Centre is included on a list of Clinton Card owned stores that will shut as administrators look to shed around half the chain’s 784 branches.

The town’s Clinton Card store, which was included on a list of threatened ‘non-core’ stores circulated by a leading property publication, is safe however, town centre manager Tracey Parry said.

The store was unable to confirm this, referring all enquiries to administrators Zolfo Cooper.

The troubled chain went into administration after American Greetings Corporation bought its �35m debt. A closure plan began on May 21 and will continue into June.