Police find gun and bullets inside designer handbag

Police discovered a gun and live bullets inside a designer handbag in Birmingham.

Officers also found a knife in the large Louis Vuitton bag after searching a car on Sunday.

The discovery was made after officers in Newtown received reports of anti-social behaviour due to people riding road bikes through Witton cemetery in Moor Lane.

On seeing the police, a number of people ran. A vehicle was searched and the weapon stash and drugs were discovered. Two people are now in custody being questioned by the police.

The discovery follows a spate of knife and gun seizures across the city this month.

A 12-year-old girl found a knife - linked by police to violent crime - hidden in a tree in a Stechford park on Saturday 9th March.

Police said it had been carefully concealed to prevent discovery by a passerby and it was "amazing" that the young girl found it.

A man was also found with a large kitchen knife and two combat knives in Birmingham New Street Station on Saturday 2nd March.

According to British Transport Police (BTP), the man was stopped after a tip-off from a member of the public.

Last week, police investigating a break-in seized a gun linked to a Wolverhampton gang.

Officers called to an address in Kimberley Street, Pennfields, Wolverhampton, found the weapon on Tuesday 5th March.

It was identified as a blank firing pistol but West Midlands Police said it could be used to "scare and intimidate".

Home Secretary Sajid Javid visited Northfield high street to speak with officers, including chief constable Dave Thompson, on Friday 8th March and was confronted by an angry mumwhose two sons were victims of knife attacks.