West Midlands Police has stepped up operations across parts of the city

A loaded revolver, knives and £20,000 worth of drugs have been seized as police arrested 25 people during a major crackdown on serious and organised crime in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police has stepped up operations across parts of the city since August, targeting suspected criminals in areas including Stechford, Bordesley Green, Alum Rock and Washwood Heath.

Officers from the force's gangs, firearms and investigation teams have carried out additional patrols, warrants and searches in a bid to disrupt criminal activity.

The operation has resulted in 25 arrests for offences including firearms possession, possession of offensive weapons and drug dealing.

Police have also recovered a loaded revolver, six bullets, 15 shotgun cartridges and multiple zombie knives, blades and bats.

A total of 65 searches have been carried out, while officers have seized around £20,000 worth of Class A and B drugs.

In one 10-day period alone, the force's gangs team gathered more than 100 pieces of intelligence as part of the ongoing operation.

Officers have also worked alongside partner agencies to target suspected criminals using Birmingham's road network, stopping vehicles without insurance or with illegal window tints.

Det Ch Insp Francis Nock, from Birmingham's Proactive Crime team, said: "This is about making life as hard as possible for criminals who live and operate in these areas.

"In response to concerns from the community, we've stepped up our enforcement, intelligence gathering and other work in the area to take out key individuals and seize the tools of their trade including guns, weapons and drugs.

"We've been using Section 60 powers in parts of the city to give us extra powers to stop and search people, and the feedback we've had from the community has been positive.

"Criminals operating in Birmingham should be under no illusion. We are using all our resources and powers to investigate, disrupt and arrest them to put a stop to their activity which is so often linked to misery and violence which blights communities and causes misery for law-abiding residents."

Police are urging anyone with information about serious and organised crime in their neighbourhood to contact West Midlands Police through Live Chat or by calling 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.