STAFF at a Bournemouth card shop have been made redundant just days before Christmas.

A message on the door of the Card Bar at the Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre, formerly the Dalkeith Arcade, informed shoppers the store was closing.

It read “Closing Forever. All staff made redundant. Merry Christmas.”

Employees Catherine Shaw and Molly Bruce said the Card Bar, which includes a Thorntons franchise, would close for good on Christmas Eve. Staff had been informed of the decision on Thursday, Catherine said.

“We’re all really upset about it. We have such loyal customers and they have been asking what’s happening.

“We put the sign up because people have been complaining about us running low on stock recently.”

Staff were told the store was one of several in the chain to be closing.

Catherine added: “We will still be trading as normal until the end of the day on Christmas Eve, so I hope people will come and see us until then.

“We’re all really sad. Everything is so up in the air.”

Mandy Payne, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce said she sympathised with the staff.

“It’s an unfortunate time of year to be made redundant and for a business to close,” she said.

“While I can’t comment on the situation specifically, it’s sad to see a business shut.”

She said generally there were “some good figures” coming in from traders in Bournemouth.

“Everyone seems to be achieving what they set out. It’s looking quite healthy”, she added.