Giant Fizzers sweets mural sparks council inquiry

Tammy Gooding,Worcesterand
Elliot Ball,West Midlands
News imageBBC A long wall beside a wet sidewalk shows a mural painted like a wrapped candy. It has pastel stripes and large pink letters spelling “FIZZERS.” BBC
Worcester City Council has said it has started an investigation over a piece of graffiti in St John's, Worcester

An unauthorised giant mural depicting a packet of retro sweets in Worcester has sparked an investigation by the city council.

The 35ft (11m) Fizzers artwork was created by city-based street artist who goes by the name of Mr Sce.

Speaking to BBC Hereford & Worcester, he said he was drawn to the spot in St John's like a "moth to a flame", because it was in a dilapidated condition and perfect to "bring some happiness" for passers-by.

However, a city council spokesperson has now said the authority would be assessing "whether the artwork complies with planning and advertisement regulations".

Sce said most of his artwork was designed to be "temporary anyway" and he viewed this work - featuring the Fizzers confectionery that was launched nearly a century ago - as being like "spring".

"It'll come and go, but you get to enjoy it when it's here," he explained.

'Spark the memory'

The inspiration behind his design, he said, was his girlfriend's tea towel, which features an array of retro sweets.

Sce said the final design was a coin toss between the Fizzers and a Curly Wurly, with the classic fizzy sweets winning out.

"Maybe the kids don't know much about Fizzers, but their parents certainly will," he said, after completing the work.

"It's just something to spark the memory and bring some happiness."

He added: "Any sort of space that looks dilapidated and takes a little bit of joy from our peripheral, I'm drawn to.

"I'm always looking to add to a place rather than detract from a place."

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