Mango has had to apologise after a necklace sold on its website was described as “slave style”, which it blamed on a translation error.

On its official Twitter account, the Spanish fashion retailer said: “We regret the translation error. The relevant services have been alerted and will make the correction immediately.”

The gold chain that was subject of the error was priced at €24.99 (£21).

French actresses Aissa Maiga and Sonia Rolland and columnist Rokkaya Diallo had organised an online petition against Mango over the description, said Sky News.

The petition called Slavery is not Fashion, generated more than 1,600 signatures.

In the petition addressed to Mango’s public relations department, it said: “This jewellery is meant to make an object of fantasy and fashion out of slavery.

“Mango is trivialising tragedies that still today have an impact on millions of human beings across the world.”