Birmingham ticket machine operates in German

Drivers using a Birmingham city centre car park have had their language skills tested by a ticket dispenser which operates in German.

"If the machine shows German writing, the car park is full"

The machine gives instructions in English until the multi-storey Brunel Street car park becomes full - then it switches to German.

The council blamed a change in software in December, when the city was hosting its Frankfurt Christmas Market.

"Maybe the machine got confused," a council spokesman said.

Brum Eye

The council hopes to have the problem rectified by next week.

In the meantime a notice has been put up and staff are on hand to translate.

One motorist, looking at the notice on the machine, said: "It is quite funny, but I don't understand how that can happen."

A few years earlier, visitors to the city's big wheel, dubbed the Brum Eye, were confused to find themselves listening to French commentary describing Paris.

So, now it's in Brummie and no one else can understand it?!!!