OXON: County branches of stricken retailer Clinton Cards have escaped the first round of closures.

Adminstrators at finance specialist Zolfo Cooper have revealed 25 Birthdays stores and 19 trading as Clinton Cards will shut by the end the month with 300 job losses, but none are in Oxfordshire. Attempts to sell the business as a going concern continue but more closures are expected.

Joint administrator Peter Saville said: “We have received expressions of interest from a number of third parties.”

The firm has stores in: Westgate Centre, Oxford; Woolgate Centre, Witney; Sheep Street, Bicester; Buttermarket, Thame; Castle Quay, Banbury, and Bell Street, Henley, with about 60 staff. The Banbury Birthdays store has also escaped closure so far.