A protest that started out in Wales threatened to snowball into an international movement yesterday as campaigners gathered outside Burberry stores across the world to try to convince the luxury goods brand to reconsider the closure of its Rhondda Valley factory.

Protesters gathered in London, Paris, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas on Valentine's Day in a last-ditch attempt to save 300 jobs. "Stop Burberry breaking our hearts," was the message on cards being pressed into customers' hands outside stores.