A number of Ammanford residents have taken to the streets to voice their discontent at Marks and Spencers failure to provide Welsh signs in the stores.

The group joined members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith – the Welsh Language Society – displayed their disapproval of the stores language policy by stringing together 150 pairs of pants outside the supermarket chains Carmarthen store.Hazel Charles Evans, of Caeffynnon in Llandybie, said: “Before they undertook the work of rebranding the shop we were told that M&S Carmarthen would be a model for all their shops in south west Wales and that the Welsh language would most definitely be displayed in the store.

“The company has not kept its word.”

The only two Welsh language signs to be found in the store was one saying Lifft and another reading “Talwch Yma” – “Pay Here”.

Mrs Charles Evans was part of the 1990s protest that saw Marks and Spencer finally install Welsh signs at their Llanelli town centre branch.

“Back in the 1990s when Marks and Spencer first opened we protested about their lack of ‘Welsh signs and they changed their policy,” she told the Guardian.

“But it seems that we are now back at square one.

“Their stores in France and Spain have all signs in French and Spanish, so why not here in Wales?”

As well as use of Welsh signs in-store, Mrs Charles Evans said the group are also calling on the retail giant to sell more Welsh produce in store and label it as such.

“If the company decides to do nothing, there will be further protests arranged,” said Mrs Charles Evans.

“We were assured that when they rebranded the store at the beginning of the year there would be Welsh signs.

“We intended to hold them to that.”

A Marks and Spencer spokesman said: “We are committed to supporting our Welsh-speaking customers and work closely with the Welsh Language Commissioner to offer bilingual signage and service to all our stores in Wales, including at Carmarthen.

“Our Carmarthen store has recently undergone modernization to include enhanced bilingual signage around the store. In addition, Our Welsh-speaking customer assistants wear badges to identify their ability to provide service in Welsh.”