After a torrid year, Clinton Cards has some reason to celebrate today as its shares jump more than 15% following news of improving sales.

The party props, plushes and greetings retailer highlights a “marked improvement in second half like-for-like sales” and adds that pattern has continued into the current year with Clinton stores showing gain of 2.9% in the first 10 weeks.

Clinton Cards earlier this year put its Birthdays greeting-cards chain into administration saying it could no longer provide funding to the loss-making business.

In June, it bought back 196 Birthdays stores out of administration for £3.5m.

Click here for full report

Birthdays who currently employ more than 2,000 employees, from 332 outlets were put into administration by its parent company Clinton Cards last month.

It is been reported that Clinton is buying back 196 stores which it says will save the jobs of 1,450 people, but the unsold shops will shut.