A MUCH-LOVED party shop which has served the community for more than 50 years looks set to close after being put up for sale for more than £1million.

Sancto, the party store, in London Road, Southend, is being marketed by Dedman Gray, with bosses insisting there has already been significant interest.

The store will be familiar to generations of families who have bought balloons, party costumes, posters and party signs from the company.

The business, and attached accommodation, is up for grabs for roughly £1.25million.

The shop is already attracting interest from potential showrooms and furniture stores.

No formal closing date has been announced for the much-loved party shop.

Businesses close to Sancto expressed their sadness at the news.

Karen Taplin, 43, trainee assistant manager at the the Trading Room pub on London Road, said it was a popular store for residents.

She said: “It was a really loved shop and it’s an absolute shame because its been with one family for a long time. I can only assume it’s because of the pandemic why they’ve shut.

“I didn’t notice anything with their social media because it’s been there so long, it was a go to. Everyone knows if there was a hen party or a fancy-dress party you went straight there, you didn’t even have to think about it.

“Southend in general is like a ghost town, the big stores have gone and it seems the high street is hanging on by a thread.”

Managing director of Dedman Gray Mike Gray said the property was already generating interest from buyers with features such as a loading space appealing for those with heavier products to sell.

He said: “It’s encouraged a number of early viewers and the premises lend themselves towards different types of uses including a showroom or maybe an operator displaying items like furniture or TVs instead of a smaller retailer you would expect to find on a high street.

“We haven’t reached the stage of any negotiations with a party yet but there’s already two more viewing s booked for after the Easter break.

“It’s amazing how many people remember this property and enjoyed the prospect of buying it.”