NEWPORT is around 90 miles away from Oswestry, yet bankers at HSBC's Bridge Street branch could be forgiven for thinking they have been magically transported to the Shropshire border town.

Inside the building they are greeted by a sign that reads Welcome to Newport above the words Croeso i Croesoswalt, which translates as welcome to Oswestry in the Welsh language. Although, even this is mis-spelt as Oswestry is Croesoswallt.

Teacher Ruth Willis, of Allt-yr-Yn, first noticed the mistake last November and pointed it out to a counter assistant.

Mrs Willis said: “We laughed about it at first. Everyone knew it was wrong when I highlighted it, as they knew welcome to Newport is Croeso i Gasnewydd.”

The sign wasn’t changed despite Mrs Willis pointing it out to staff on visits in December and January. She wrote to the bank manager, Peter Melling, on February 19, but says her letter was not answered or acknowledged.

Mrs Willis- who is a Welsh tutor for school teachers- said: “I think its appalling they don’t think it’s important enough to change”, adding: “You wouldn’t see the words in English, it seems very strange they are welcoming people to another town.”

HSBC media relations manager Candice Durrett called it “quite a big mistake”, saying a Croeso i Gasnewydd sign has now been ordered. She said staff in the Bridge Street branch have been told to cover the incorrect sign up with card until the replacement arrives.

She said: “We have checked with the Oswestry branch and their sign is correct, so it looks there was a mistake by the manufacturer.

“It was a silly mistake that must have happened when the branch was refurbished recently. But now it has been acknowledged, we are doing all we can to get it rectified.”