TWENTY language campaigners staged a sit-down protest at an outdoor pursuits shop where a customer claimed he was told off for speaking Welsh. And they vowed to mount more demonstrations if store bosses don't agree to a meeting. Dilwyn Llwyd accused an assistant of reprimanding him as he browsed Blacks' Betws y Coed branch last month. The 35-year-old and his partner asked a member of staff in Welsh where could they find the bags. He claimed the assistant said she did not speak Welsh before branding him "very rude" for assuming she spoke the language. The Ysgol y Creuddyn, Llandudno, art teacher complained to the store's London HQ about the assistant's attitude. Mr Llwyd said: "My complaint was that the assistant called me rude for speaking to her in Welsh and assuming that she spoke Welsh." He said he was dissatisfied with the company's response and its failure to offer a satisfactory apology. Yesterday, Mr Llwyd and his Canadian partner Manuela joined 20 members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) in a sit-in at the store. They expressed their disappointment at not being consulted during a company probe into the allegation. Mr Llwyd, from Caernarfon, said: "It's not for me but for the language - to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again. I know that I'm in the right, there's no argument over that. "The support was great. Both me and Manuela support the society's campaign for a new Welsh Language Act." CIG's North Wales spokesman Dewi Snelson said protesters left peacefully after Blacks promised a meeting. Mr Snelson said: "There have been no apologies but we hope to organise a meeting with bosses by the end of the week. If not, then we will be back and continuing with our protests." The store manager yesterday declined to comment (see company response in separate panel). North Wales Police confirmed officers were called to a peaceful demonstration at the store but no offences were committed and there were no arrests. 'We'll say sorry... again' IN A statement Blacks said: "We are disappointed that there was a demonstration today at our Blacks store in Betws-y-Coed at which were present both a customer who had previously complained and members of the Welsh Language Society. "Unfortunately this demonstration resulted in our staff feeling both intimidated and distressed and as a result the police were called. "The demonstration however was a peaceful one, although disproportionate considering we had already responded to both the customer and the Welsh Language Society. "We had previously sent a written apology to the customer for any offence caused by the service they received at our Betws y Coed store and are dealing with the complaint as a matter of urgency. "We will be writing to the customer again today following an additional letter that we have received. "Blacks have also responded to a number of communications from the Welsh Language Society explaining that we have apologised to the customer and also outlining that we are undertaking a review further to some of the issues raised. "We will keep the Welsh Language Society informed of our conclusions." | 
