A HARD-WORKING Halesowen Highways Agency employee has been catapulted to stardom in hit BBC 2 show The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane.

The documentary highlighted Robert Gregory's affable manner dealing with the multiple problems on the motorway network.

During filming he worked as control room team manager in Highways Agency West Midlands Regional Control Centre in Quinton.

He joined the Highways Agency in 2009 as an operator before becoming team manager is 2011 with responsibility for several teams in the control room.

The former Earls High School pupil still lives in Halesowen and has now started a new role as regional technology operation liaison.

He said: “My role acts as a liaison between the groups within the agency and the control rooms and I’m responsible for both the West Midlands and South West regional control centres.

Mr Gregory studied Project Management and Information Technology Management Robert intends to continue to progress his career with the Highways Agency.

He said: “The Agency is very supportive and encourages staff to develop their knowledge and experience. It’s a good place to work."

As a talented footballer he used to turn out for Wolverhampton Wanderers' youth team but is now at home fielding technical issues for the Highways Agency.

The documentary series followed the workers who keep the traffic flowing on one of the busiest stretches of road in Britain, where the country's longest motorway, the M6, meets four other major routes.

As well as depicting the work Highways Agency staff have to do to keep traffic moving the series also included the harrowing work workers faced concerning accidents and suicides.