Plans to rename a Welsh village "Pig Village" have sparked fury from residents who have branded the move "bloody crazy" and "bonkers". The 1,500-person halmet in Flintshire, north-west Wales, is currently known as Northop Hall - but an initiative aimed at championing the Welsh language has encouraged residents to instead refer to it as "Pentre-moch", which translates to "Pig Village".

Those in favour of the new name, which is a nod to the area's origin as a cluster of pig holdings in the 1530s, have insisted that it is historically accurate and celebrates its unique roots. Others, however, have been outraged by what they view as a "woke" attempt to rebrand the settlement by Northop Hall Community Council. The local authority has launched a consultation for the change, which has existed colloquially for around 400 years. It was named Northop Hall after a 13th-century manor house once owned by ancestors of the novelist George Eliot.

However, residents opposed to the change have slammed it as "bloody crazy" and a show of "unbelievable wokeness", LBC reports.

Jeff Sampson, who has lived in the Welsh village for 46 years, also warned that it could turn the area into a "laughing stock", adding that he thought it was a "ludicrous" idea.

"I really don't think it's necessary," Mr Sampson told the BBC. "There has been a lot of influx of people in the village and they want a Welsh equivalent - well, just go somewhere where it's already installed."

Others said the introduction of a Welsh name for the halmet might encourage more people to use the "lovely" language, with Gaynor Hughes, who has lived there for 50 years, suggesting that it was a shame that the name "Pentre-moch" was not already in common use.

"I just feel that's what it has always been known as, people who have lived here a long time are very aware of it," she said.

John Gollege, chairman of Northop Hall community council, added the consultation had been launched in response to requests by residents.

"We're trying to display and encourage the Welsh heritage of the village," he said. "It is not a name change. The name will remain Northop Hall."

Road signs would reportedly not be updated with the Welsh name, if approved, until they are in need of replacement - and it would then go alongside the village's English name.

It wouldn't be the first part of Wales to come under fire for introducing or proposing new names to reflect the country's history.

Beauty spots Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons have also pivoted to Welsh-language names in recent years, with opponents including Tory MP David Davis branding the shift "bonkers virtue signalling".