Byers gets slice of the Midlands

TRADE and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers is set to get a sliceof Black Country heritage in the shape of a paper knife.

He will be presented with the knife, incorporating a design fromBrierley Hill glassware firm The Executive Crystal Company, at thelaunch of a new Internet company next Friday.

A specially-commissioned piece of glassware, made by the samecraftsmen, will also be handed over to mark the official opening ofwww.mailoptics.co.uk in Wolverhampton.

The firm will sell contact lenses, designer frames and sunglassesas well as make-up and binoculars over the Internet by mail order.

Operations manager Sue Roberts said the firm wanted to dosomething different to mark Mr Byers's visit rather than having himcut a ribbon or unveil a plaque.