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Birmingham company to make white and gold dress

The Birmingham-based company behind what has become known as 'the dress' said its viral fame has caused it to sell out.

Ian Johnson, creative manager for Birmingham-based Roman Originals, said the dress sold out from the website within half an hour this morning.

Johnson they have been overwhelmed with demand for the black and blue dress, and have also been inundated with calls from people who want a white and gold version.

We're vastly over where we'd be normally.

Our website's currently at about a million visits to this page alone. It is back in stock now, and we are looking pretty good into the weekend.

Our head designer, Michelle Bastok is discussing the possibility of the white and gold version, and we are hoping to get that made soon.

– Ian Johnson
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Birmingham company behind #thedress debate

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Birmingham designer of #thedress 'overwhelmed' by the attention

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The woman who designed the dress which has become an internet sensation has told ITV News Central that the last 24 hours have been "absolutely crazy".

The image below was put on twitter last night and a few hours later it had become the centre of a global argument over its colour.

Celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian have all joined the debate, as well as Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Leader Ed Miliband.

Some see white and gold, others see blue and black.

#thedress has been globally trending on twitter. Credit: Caitlin McNeill

Michele Bastock from fashion company 'Roman' is based in Erdington in Birmingham.

She was wearing the dress and settled the argument once and for all, by stating it was blue and black!

It's royal blue with a black lace, that is what we photographed in the publicity shots.

That's what the lady (who tweeted the image) purchased.

Everyone just sees it differently I guess!"

– Michele Bastock, designer of #thedress at Roman.
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Birmingham company behind #thedress debate

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Midlands set to mark Shrove Tuesday

It is Shrove Tuesday today and events are being held across the Midlands to mark Pancake Day.

Shrove Tuesday Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Leicester's market square will be transformed into a racetrack from 12:30pm, with participants tossing pancakes in a frying pan as they run around obstacles at breakneck speed.

The pancake tossing will begin at 12:45pm in Coventry's Broadgate. Teams of four can enter the day's races but everyone must bring their own frying pan.

Residents take part in the Atherstone Ball Game Credit: David Jones/PA Archive/Press Association Images

The annual Atherstone Ball Game will be taking place in Warwickshire at 3pm today

This lively tradition has been going for 800 years. Scores of people are expected to gather on Long Street as residents today as residents literally brawl over a large leather ball.

Shops in the town's ancient streets are boarded up, schools are closed and townsfolk vie to win the contest by being the person holding the ball at 5pm.

There'll be scores of other Pancake-themed events taking place across the region today.

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