POLICE told a Cradley Heath pub to close after reports of an event with loud music at the weekend.

The Holly Bush Pub on Newtown Lane was issued with a 48 hour closure notice on Saturday (August 8) after police attended due to concerns over anti-social behaviour during an event with loud music.

The pub was targeted by West Midlands Police as officers took action to stop illegal gatherings and anti-social behaviour across the region over the weekend.

They shut down 125 parties and raves as well as closing the Holly Bush.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We disrupted scores of groups who ignored restrictions and increased the risk of spreading the potentially deadly CoVID-19 virus."

A gathering of up to 600 people in Brooklyn Avenue, Aston and a DJ party with more than 60 attendees in Ismere Road, Erdington, were also closed down on Saturday night.

The spokesman said: "The Holly Bush Pub in Cradley Heath was issued with a 48 hour closure notice after officers attended and anti-social behaviour concerns over an event with loud music were ignored.

"These followed up actions we took on Friday which included stopping a rave in Garrison Lane, Bordesley Green, and a block party in Elliot Street, Nechells.

"We’re continuing to use a range resources across the force - from our dogs unit, drones and officers usually from our football unit - to act on information and prevent illegal meet ups of more than 30 people."

Chief Superintendent Claire Bell said: "We remain in a pandemic and reckless gatherings such as parties and unlicensed music events only increase the risk of spreading the virus.

"You could be putting the lives of your family and friends at risk.

"Such gatherings are not only illegal, they are a nuisance to others and a public health risk. We have resources in place to shut these events down.

"We have an operation in place and while we seek to engage and educate people to follow the guidelines, we will seek to prosecute if this is ignored."

People are urged to inform police if they hear of plans for large gatherings by calling 101.