SWANSEA Council used translators for 34 different languages in the last year — at a cost of almost £45,500.

Polish, Bengali, Turkish and Vietnamese were among the tongues which the authority needed help with.

The council used the translators in dealing with the public for a range of its services including social services, housing and education.

Taha Idris, chairman of Swansea Bay Racial Equality Council (SBREC), said people should be proud of the linguist and ethnic diversity in the county — but he also called for more resources for people who want to learn to speak English.

See: South Wales