A mural depicting England footballers Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers enjoying a local delicacy, known as orange chips, has been vandalized. The artwork, situated on the side of the Classic Fryer chip shop on Hagley Road in Quinton, was defaced, with much of the image of Bellingham reportedly ripped from the wall.
Dudley artist Dion Kitson, who created the mural, shared his dismay on Instagram. "This is why we can't have nice things, I spend my own money, time and resources creating art for people to enjoy," Kitson stated. "It's sad to see, I'm upset but as Cod is my witness, I'm planning something bigger and batter."
The mural, which showed the Black Country-born players tucking into battered chips, was installed ahead of the World Cup quarter-final in July. Following the vandalism, social media users suggested the artist create a larger piece, with some recommending it be located in Bellingham's hometown of Stourbridge.