In a bizarre development, the delightful city of Birmingham has been chosen as the first place in the entire country where BlackBerry fans can get their hands on the eagerly-awaited PlayBook tablet from Research In Motion.

Whether it was RIM or Dixons Retail that made the decision, Brum can now boast this wondrous accolade alongside that wonder of the modern world Spaghetti Junction, a relegated football team, and the NEC, home, of course, to the Gladiators.

The tablet, which has had mixed reviews in the US since its launch there last September, but a decent four stars from V3.co.uk, will be available from today at the aptly-named Black store in the city.

Black? The Black Country? BlackBerry? Sneak senses a theme and the hand of some cunning PR-ery here, although for that matter RIM could just as easily have launched the product in Blackburn.

Sneak wonders whether Currys was forced to enlist the help of former Gladiators Jet, Hunter and, of course, the Wolf man to hold back the crowds at the store. That's assuming, of course, that anyone turned up.

Gladiators, rrrrrready?!!! PlayBook fanatics, rrrrrrrrready?!!! 3...2....1......

15 Jun 2011