The first public weekend of the biggest Motor Show in Europe was literally a wash-out. It rained heavily all day in Birmingham and the roads are again inches deep in flood water. Attendance is the worst in many years with the motor trade reporting a dismal lack of interest in their expensively advertised new models. Dour looking punters scanned empty aisles strewn with crisp packets and pop bottles.

The casual labour most of the trade employs at this show, are not the sharply besuited types found in most performance car showrooms. "We all want to see eco-friendly cars, mate. Personally I'm a cyclist, so I'd like to see less cars on the road." said one of the disillusioned sales staff trying in vain to push the SUV on an enquiring activist.

!! CAPTION COMPETITION NUMBER ONE !!

What is the feller in the photograph saying ?
We'll announce the winner here on the 3rd November and YES there'll be a prize.