Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

More than 5.3m vaccine doses have been delivered in the West Midlands, with 10m people now vaccinated across the wider Midlands area, figures show.

It's a major milestone and comes as anyone over 30 can now book an appointment for their jab.

Over the next few days, one million people across the country aged 30 and 31 will be invited via text message.

Birmingham's director of public health said reaching a younger age group was important to protect them against variants of the virus.

BBCCopyright: BBC

"What we are seeing from across the world where we have these new variants, is that it's a younger audience ending up in hospital - the people who are vaccinated are protected and the younger age groups are starting to end up in A&E.

"The faster we can vaccinate everyone the more protected we are against these new variants," he said.

He said the success story of reaching millions of people in the region was down to giving people access to get vaccinated.

"It's the entire system working together to put forward the vaccine in a way that gets to people and gives them the chance to protect themselves from a third wave," he added.

A mainly dry, dull day with overcast skies. Light winds and a high of 19C/66F.

BBC Weather Watcher ShaunCopyright: BBC Weather Watcher Shaun

Staying mostly dry tonight with lingering cloud and light winds again. Low: 11C/52F.

You can get a latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

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.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

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

Staffordshire Police said 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.