Ozzy the bull to be repaired due to loose part

Ozzy the bull in Birmingham New Street
Ozzy has not moved since 28 March after a part came loose, Network Rail said [PA Media]

The mechanical bull which was the star of Birmingham's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony is due to be repaired this weekend after being out of action for almost a month.

Named after Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy has been a popular feature in Birmingham New Street railway station since July 2023, where it regularly moved his head and swished its tail.

However, Ozzy has been stationary since 28 March, with Network Rail telling the BBC that a small part had come loose within its head.

Network Rail said there was a mechanical issue and Ozzy's head movement was stopped as a precaution until it could be fixed.

A spokesperson for Network Rail told the BBC that the bull posed no risk to members of the public.

He said: "We stopped the movement and checked the head was safely secured.

"It was, and is, but we have kept the head still until a full repair is completed.

"We have been working with Artem, the company which constructed Ozzy, on a repair plan."

He added: "Plans to repair Ozzy last weekend couldn’t take place after a tyre-blow out on the motorway stopped the team/replacement parts arriving."

Sharon Osbourne was at the unveiling of the bull named after her husband in Birmingham New Street Station.

In a recent interview with Mrs Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne said he was going to visit the bull and said he would visit the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street, "[even] if I have to crawl there".

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

More on this story

Related internet links