23/11/2017 Midlands Today

he hopes to prove the earnings

forecasts wrong.

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today.

The headlines this lunchtime:

Gridlock in Birmingham City Centre

as roadworks at one island

causes traffic chaos.

The works at Holloway are part

of a bigger picture,

a bigger programme of work to try to

keep traffic moving

around the city centre,

so this will play its part in that

along with other junction

improvements

that are going to come next year.

Transforming vinyl into art.

How this Staffordshire artist's work

has picked up a celebrity following.

And Wolves' biggest home win

on the season raises their hopes

of promotion to the Premier League.

Good afternoon.

Drivers have been complaining about

increasing levels of congestion

around Birmingham city centre.

Some roads have been gridlocked

because of roadworks

at several major junctions,

and with Christmas approaching,

things are expected to get worse.

Our transport correspondent,

Peter Plisner has been monitoring

things today and he joins us

from one those congestion hotspots.

Peter, what's been happening?

This is one of Birmingham's busiest

junctions, Holloway Circus. As you

can see, pretty congested. The

roadworks are ironically designed to

ease congestion but causing worse

congestion than before. If you look

appear, the traffic is queueing back

all the way up Holloway head. It is

so bad that the City Council is

urging people to find alternative

ways to get into work.

Our message to all people

travelling to Birmingham is

as much as possible

use public transport,

walking and cycling are key

priorities for us now,

so that's the key messages.

Yes, works are taking place,

and while they are,

that should be everybody's

key priority,

to use other forms of transport

other than the private car

to get in and around Birmingham.

Why couldn't the work has been done

over the summer when it is quieter

on the roads?

The problem is there

are so many schemes to be done

around Birmingham that things have

to be slotted in. It certainly could

not have been done during the

summer. There were other things

happening. And it cannot be done

next to because the HS2 work will

start. It had to be done now. That

is the main problem. It has to be

slotted into a specific time frame.

This is the only time frame they can

get.

Is it likely to get any better

before Christmas?

Of course a lot

more traffic on the road at

Christmas, but what we are told is

that these roadworks and some others

will be listed in the middle of

December so at least some relief

from the congestion over that

period.

Indeed. Thank you.

And we'd love to hear from you about

your drive through Birmingham.

So do get in touch on Twitter,

Facebook or email us.

West Midlands Police have released

shocking images of an elderly man

who was attacked at his home

in Sutton Coldfield

earlier this week.

A warning, the picture you're

about to see of Arthur Gumbley

is very disturbing.

87-year-old Mr Gumbley

was viciously beaten and robbed

in his home on Tuesday night.

He was found lying on the floor

and he'd been punched and kicked.

The thieves ransacked

the house and stole cash.

Officers are looking for two men

in connection with the attack.

A toddler has died afer

being seriously hurt

at a house in Birmingham.

Emergency services were called

to an address in Northfield

on Sunday following reports

that a 21-month-old child was

unconscious.

The girl was taken to

Birmingham Children s Hospital

in a critical condition

but pronounced dead last night.

A 28-year-old man and a 30-year-old

woman have been arrested

on suspicion of causing or allowing

serious injury to a child.

Plans for the West Midlands Mayor

to take on responsibility

for policing in 2020 have

been announced as part

of second devolution deal

in yesterday's budget.

The move would see the role of

Police and Crime Commissioner

scrapped.

The current Crime Commissioner,

David Jamieson

and the Mayor Andy Street

are both due to complete

their respective terms in 2020.

A Staffordshire artist is gaining

worldwide fame thanks to portraits

of music icons that he creates

using just old records.

Ben Rieley's pictures are believed

to have been bought by the likes

of Pharrell Williams, Olly Murs,

and a number of Premier League

footballers.

This weekend he will be in Las Vegas

for his latest exhibition.

Ben Sidwell reports.

When it comes to breaking records

in the art world,

Ben Reilly from Audley in North

Staffordshire

is in a different league.

I came up with this

light bulb moment.

It had what it takes because it's so

unique and different

and there's no-one else

in the world doing it.

Ben's idea was to create portraits

of music icons

using only

bits of old records.

No other materials are

used in the pictures.

All the intricate details are formed

using ground up vinyl.

# Don't fool me now.#

His work soon began to gain

notoriety on the internet,

and quickly, demand grew.

From the village of Audley

in North Staffordshire, to London,

Los Angeles and Las Vegas,

Ben's work is now being sold

in galleries around the world.

At Silver Star Gallery

in Chester, Ben is one

of the most popular artists.

Here they've sold over 50

of his works at £1,600 a portrait.

Each piece is unique to itself,

hence the price tag on the pieces.

But they have been

massively popular.

Our customers really do,

really do love Ben's

work, as I do myself.

Pharrell Williams, Olly Murs

and a number of Premier League

footballers are believed to now

own his work.

As for Ben, well, he's jetting off

to Las Vegas for his latest

art show this weekend.

Ben Sidwell, BBC

Midlands Today, Audley.

Football, and Wolves

are now four points clear

of the Championship table

after beating Leeds 4-1 last night.

The goals came from four

different goalscorers.

It's their biggest home win

of the season and raises hopes

of promotion to the Premier League

at the end of the season.

Dan Pallet reports.

These are bountiful

days at Molineux.

And on the menu last night,

another feast of football

topped of with a large

dollop of goals.

topped off with a large

dollop of goals.

And this wasn't stodgy fare either.

Wolves are playing

some sumptious stuff.

Barry Douglas served up a tasty

starter with this free kick.

The main courses were even better.

Ivan Cavaleiro finished

off a flowing move with

this excellent finish.

And although Leeds scored

a fine goal of their own

through Ezgjan Alioski the game

quickly swung back in Wolves favour

after Ronaldo Vieira was sent-off.

Diogo Jota showed a great pace

and composure for number three.

And dessert came

via the penalty spot.

Intense Wolves pressure

earned them a penalty.

And Helder Costa dispatched it

for a 4-1 win

which moves them four points clear.

Now we go from feat to famine.

Now we go from feast to famine.

Birmingham City have the worst away

record in the Championship.

And they've scored just three times

away from St Andrews this season.

So once Britt Assombalonga had put

Middlesbrough in front

at the Riverside, the result

was entirely predictable.

Things may have turned out

differently had Che Adams hit

the back of the net instead

of goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Assombalonga showed him how it's

done with his and Boro's second.

The consoaltion for Blues

after a 2-0 defeat,

they still remain just

above the bottom three.

Dan Pallett, BBC Midlands Today.

Time for the weather now,

and it was really mild this

morning in some parts,

is it going to continue?

is it going to continue?

We have got a big change to come. It

is going to get much colder. Get

your winter clothes out. It was a

lively 24 hours of weather. We had

gusts of 50 mph. This was the theme

in the structure this morning,

stunning. We had beautiful blue

skies but not everywhere. We have

showers working their way in from

the west. We have quite a lot of

cloud. Showers will be lively and

blustery. Tomorrow, it is turning

colder and there will be some

sunshine back on the menu. This is

what we have this afternoon, showers

pushing their way in. The winds will

strengthen along that. It is not as

windy as it was yesterday. Plenty of

out there as well, though. There

might be some sleet involved in the

coldest areas. As we had through the

remainder of the day, clear skies

and we're back into the chilly

nights. We are likely to see a touch

of frost. Loans of between two and

five Celsius. -- low temperatures of

between two and five Celsius. Winds

will ease off and sunshine for

tomorrow. A crisp, autumnal day. Why

dry and we should not see many

showers. Temperatures six to eight

Celsius. More of that,

showers. Temperatures six to eight

Celsius. More of that, on Saturday

but it is certainly feeling much

colder. I will get my jumper out

then.

That's all for now.

Nick Owen will be back with

Midlands Today at 6:30pm on BBC 1.

From everyone here on the lunchtime

team, have a lovely afternoon.