A crack down on knife crime has been launched by West Midlands Police this morning.

The force says it will search parks for hidden weapons, arrange undercover operations to find shops selling blades to children, intercept weapons imported over the internet and arrest high-profile suspects.

There will be an emphasis on steering children away from knife-crime and officers will be visiting schools to educate pupils about the dangers.

Some schools will have knife arches designed to detect any weapons being brought on to premises.

A man and woman needed hospital treatment after being assaulted with a hammer and a blade in their own home, police said.

Two men knocked on the door of the property in Drakes Avenue, Dines Green in Worcester, before attacking the occupants before stealing items including a BSA lightning airgun.

The man suffered injuries to his head and hands and has been in hospital since the attack at about 23:30 GMT on 30 January.

The woman also suffered head injuries.

West Mercia Police said investigations are continuing into the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

BBC Weather Watchers

The snow of yesterday and the weekend looks to have truly gone as we've had many photos of rainy scenes from our BBC Weather Watchers today.

These ones are from users Toppo in Doddenham, PJ's in Badger and Di's Walk in Birmingham:

Image source, Toppo

Image source, PJ's

Image source, Di's Walk

Allen Cook
BBC News

A teenager's suffered a broken eye socket after a man punched him in the face several times.

Image source, Google

The 17-year-old boy was sitting in a car with a 16-year-old girl when he was attacked.

Another car parked alongside theirs, in Waterfield Road, Newton Farm, Hereford, and a woman inside began verbally abusing them, police said.

A man from the second car then got out, spoke to the teenage boy and punched him leaving him needing hospital treatment.

The attack took place on 30 January.

Worcester News

The Worcester News has these headlines today:

• Worcester mother banned from medical practice in swear word feud, external
• Cuts at Malvern and Evesham fire station reversed, external
• Council leader stands down with sights set on 'romantic adventure' in America, external

The planned Commonwealth Games athlete's village will be on the site of the old University of Central England and Birmingham City University in Perry Barr.

It's just one mile from the Alexander Stadium, one of the competition venues.

Image source, Birmingham City Council/Google

The development, if it gets the necessary planning approval, will also involve improvements to the Perry Barr railway station and a new bus interchange.

David Denton is to exit Worcester, who sign fellow Scotland international Cornell Du Preez and Wales' Ashley Beck.

The female crew has broken three world records in their ocean-crossing achievement, organisers say.

BBC Sport

West Brom manager Alan Pardew says goal-scoring is a "big issue" for his side and he wasn't be helped by losing striker Daniel Sturridge to a hamstring injury in the third minute of last night's match.

They ended up losing the game 3-0 to Chelsea and Sturridge will go for a scan on his leg later today.

Image source, Getty Images

The Baggies remain bottom of the Premier League table and seven points from safety - and only Swansea City have scored fewer goals this season.

Trevor Owens
Sports Editor, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcester Warriors say back-row player Marco Mama has signed a new one-year deal with them., external

Image source, Getty Images

He's made 28 appearances for the side since first making the move from Bristol in 2015.

Injury has meant the Nigerian-born forward has missed most of their games this season.

Birmingham Post

Here are three of the headlines from the Birmingham Post today:

• Birmingham council accused of storing up tax hikes until after elections, external
• Tower block construction to start this summer, external
• Live music venue announces closing date, external

A 37-year-old man remains in police custody on suspicion of attempted murder

BBC Sport

Walsall manager Jon Whitney is urging the club's supporters to get behind his young players as they prepare to face Doncaster tonight.

They start the game in 16th place in League One, four points above the relegation zone and only two behind their opponents this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

The Saddlers conceded a late goal to draw 2-2 at Blackpool on Saturday.

A driver who killed Greg Symonds failed to stop but was not at fault for the crash, an inquest hears.

Aston Villa top scorer Albert Adomah acknowledges the debt his side currently owe to in-form Jack Grealish.

Dan Pallett
BBC Midlands Today Sport

So was Birmingham ever going to have a Velodrome to host the cycling at the 2022 Games?

The reality is no.

Birmingham has always been on a tight schedule due to picking up the baton that Durban dropped.

Image source, Getty Images

The city was also chosen ahead of Liverpool as the English bid as the vast majority of the facilities are already in place.

An aquatics centre will be built at Smethwick but the track cycling will be in the London velodrome built for the 2012 Olympics.

The track closest to the city is Manor Park at Halesowen, built in 1948, made of tarmac and outdoors.

They can’t race in the rain and there are other problems such as moss and falling twigs and leaves from nearby trees.

That’s why more than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for a new indoor velodrome in the city.

Jasmine's uncle Delroy Forrester is to appear at crown court charged with her murder.

This is the moment a group of university rowers collided with a barge on the water.

Hazel Morgan
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

Halfords says its looking to improve training and work with Parkinson's UK after a man with Parkinson's was asked to leave a store for acting suspiciously by "walking funny".

Image source, Google

Chris Cartlidge, 51, was ejected from the shop in Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, after his symptoms caused his leg to stiffen and drag on the floor.

Halfords said it had "sincerely apologised" to him and his family and now says it is committing to improving staff training by getting support from Parkinson's UK.

Shropshire Star

These are three of the headlines from the Shropshire Star today:

• Series of 'interlinked garden villages' could be built in Shropshire, external
• Public consultation over Shropshire maternity shake-up is delayed, external
• Women conquer Atlantic ocean, external