Rishi Sunak has said he will continue to use the name Brecon Beacons for the national park despite the name being changed to its Welsh name Bannau Brycheiniog.

The change was announced earlier this month, with the organisation saying it would “better reflect the park and the world we live in today”.

But it has been criticised by some senior Tories, who accused the park of a symbolic attempt to look “trendy”.

Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies also said: “The Beacons are as recognisable outside of Wales as they are here. Why undermine that?”

Speaking ahead of the Welsh Conservative Conference on Friday, Mr Sunak stood by those colleagues, saying “most people” would not follow the name change.

The prime minister told BBC Wales: “[I am] a big supporter of the Welsh language and Welsh culture.

“But when it comes to the Brecon Beacons, the first thing to say is this is an internationally renowned place to visit, attracts visitors from all around the world.

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“It’s something we’re all really proud of across the UK.

“I’m going to keep calling it the Brecon Beacons, and I would imagine most people will do that too.”

The Welsh name for the mid-Wales park translates as “peaks of Brychan’s kingdom” – a reference to the fifth-century king in the region.

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