A man has admitted arming himself with a Samurai-style sword during violent clashes with his Black Country neighbours.

West Midlands Police officers, including a firearms unit, attended Cinder Bank in Netherton on Sunday morning following several reports of a fight involving six men. They arrived to find a window at one address smashed and one man with cuts to his hands.

Mark Davies, from Cinder Bank, was arrested and later charged with affray, possessing an offensive weapon and making threats with a bladed article in public. West Midlands Police Detective Sergeant Steve Green, said:

“All six men were detained at the scene but our enquiries pointed to Davies as being the instigator of the disorder having armed himself with a weapon − and the others had reacted in self-defence.

“One man suffered cuts to his hands but thankfully no-one was seriously hurt."

The 40-year-old appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court on Monday morning where he was remanded into prison; he is due to be sentenced on 8 July.