ABERYSTWYTH’S new Tesco store has come under fire from Welsh language group Cymdeithas yr Iaith for not having enough bilingual signs.

The store was officially opened in front of a crowd of shoppers last Thursday by Welsh rugby star Shane Williams.

But members of Cymdeithas’ Pantycelyn group were unhappy about the number of signs in English and were asked to leave the store when they went to put protest stickers on English language signs.

Cymdeithas said that, while local staff were committed to the Welsh language, most of the signs and information in the community area and in flyers are in English despite assurances that this would be the shop with the most Welsh signs and provision.

“Big businesses such as this undermine independent businesses, and decisions made centrally by the company undermine the Welsh nature of the town,” said a spokesperson.

However, Tesco insisted the company was keen to support the Welsh language and that managers at the Aberystwyth store were taking lessons to improve their Welsh.

“Our store manager Christian Davies and his management team are all taking lessons to improve their spoken Welsh, and we have ensured that the key structural signage in our new store is bilingual,”said a spokesperson.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow