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Machetes, a crossbow and a sword have been seized by police who arrested 19 people in a crackdown on county lines drug dealing gangs in Staffordshire.

Image source, Getty Images

Forces across the UK boosted activity against county lines gangs in the week from 17 to 23 May.

they seized drugs and cash along with the weapons and those arrested were all held on suspicion of drugs offences.

The drug seizures included a 20-year-old man as he got off the train from Walsall to Cannock who the force said had 50 deals of heroin and crack in his socks.

Two vulnerable people were also found by officers as they searched 20 suspected "cuckooed" homes, places where gangs have taken over the place for criminal activity.

The charges follow the death of Fidel Glasgow, grandson of The Specials singer Neville Staple.

Kareem and Theo White appeared in drill music clips on YouTube that encouraged violence, police say.

���˿��� Midlands Today

Crowds will return to watch both Warwickshire and Worcestershire in action in the County Championship today.

The members will be back at New Road, Worcester, for the first time in 20 months for their home game with Derbyshire.

Warwickshire were allowed to stage a test event last summer but their game with Nottinghamshire will be the first with spectators this season.

The Bears' chief executive Stuart Cain says a lot of the people they expect today will be their members.

"People who really supported us last year by donating their membership at a time when they could not come and see live cricket, so for us this is a big thank you to those loyal fans," he said.

Follow live coverage of the matches here.

Nine oxygen concentrators worth more than £15,000 have been sent to India after an appeal by 40 Rotary clubs in the West Midlands.

The money was raised in two weeks and members are now raising money for another 32.

Image source, Getty Images

Clubs taking part include those across Birmingham, north and south Warwickshire, north Worcestershire and Coventry.

Heart of England Rotary District treasurer Robert Rainbow said: “We have been totally overwhelmed with the amount of support this appeal has received."

It will be mainly sunny today with just a few patches of cloud, although there is a slim chance of the odd shower. Highs of 19C (66F).

Image source, ���˿��� Weather Watcher BeccyWoodWeather

The mostly clear skies are set to start tonight but some bands of high cloud are expected to drift in from the west. Lows of 9C (48F).

You can get a latest forecast for your area by going to the ���˿��� Weather website.

People are being invited to help premiere a new piece of music as part of the signature event.

The victim was being detained at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, the police watchdog said.

Transport innovations developed in Coventry and Warwickshire will be showcased during its year as City of Culture.

The Our Future Moves launches with an exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum from 17 July.

It will highlight the region's pioneering work in transport innovation – from autonomous vehicles to one-person submarines.

Image source, Coventry City of Culture

Objects on display will include a Skyfarer delivery drone, Aurrigo autonomous shuttle, Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR) model, Jaguar I-PACE, Microcabs hydrogen car, and a University of Warwick nano satellite which monitors wildlife populations.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “I hope people will learn a lot, get a glimpse of the future and feel inspired.”

The Taser use and the kicks changed the ex-footballer's "trajectory to one of dying", a doctor says.

More than £700,000 of Lottery funding is to be used to help provide training for young people around the West Midlands during the Commonwealth Games.

The West Midlands Combined Authority said the games were expected to create up to 35,000 jobs and about 13,000 volunteering opportunities for local people.

Lottery Community Fund cash will be used to help young people to learn new skills and secure jobs for more than 800 people, it said.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

"This funding is vital for people who are out of work or worried about their future to gain access to work and volunteering opportunities from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games," Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said.

“Making sure that the jobs created by the Games go to local people is a key part of my jobs plan to help more than 100,000 residents into employment over the next two years, and is also critical to ensuring the Commonwealth Games is a Games for everyone.”

Stephen Green, from West Mercia Police, is charged over allegations between November and January.

The victim, 51-year-old Lee Gadd, has been described as a "dedicated family man".

Birmingham’s new Lord Mayor, Councillor Muhammad Afzal, has taken up office after a mayor-making ceremony at the Council House.

Mr Afzal had been due to serve as Lord Mayor last year, but it was not possible to conduct the traditional ceremony due to lockdown.

He moved to Birmingham in 1969 and was first elected as a councillor for Aston in May 1982, which he served for 23 years until March 2005, before being re-elected in May 2007.

Image source, Birmingham City Council

Mr Afzal was also a founding member of Birmingham Central Mosque and was involved during its construction as treasurer, holding several different roles there until 2019.

The leader of the main opposition group on Shropshire Council is to step down from the role after eight years.

Roger Evans said it was the right time for someone else to take the helm, after seeing the Liberal Democrats through their most successful local elections to date.

The party, which has been the main opposition group since the council was formed in 2009, now has 14 of the 74 seats on the authority.

Image source, Shropshire Council

Councillor Evans, who represents Longden, said: "I have always felt that after an election is an especially good to take stock and look to the future.

"I have and feel now is a good time to hand over and allow the group to elect my replacement, to take us forward and ensure the many different communities are listened to and their voices are heard and taken note of.”

Nominations will open on May 31 and the new group leader will be announced on June 21.

A dry and sunny start to Wednesday before turning a little cloudier in the afternoon, still with plenty of sunshine. High: 14C/57F.

Image source, ���˿��� Weather Watcher Burtbow

There is the chance of an odd light shower this evening but tonight will be mainly dry and clear. Low: 5C/41F.

You can stay up-to-date with the latest forecast for your area by going to the ���˿��� Weather website.

The short film, starring a mother and son from Dudley, is picking up awards in Toronto and New York.