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Protests against the teaching of LGBT relationships could spread to more schools around the country when a new curriculum is introduced, says the woman tasked with challenging extremism.

Sara Khan, who was appointed by the home secretary to lead the Commission for Countering Extremism, told the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Panorama more support should have been given to head teachers dealing with demonstrations.

Some parents have been calling for an end to the use of story books featuring same sex couples, which have been used as part of a programme teaching about equality at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham.

From September 2020, it will be compulsory to teach relationships education for primary-age pupils and relationships and sex education for secondary-age pupils.

Panorama has spoken to other religious groups around the country who said they had been energised by the protests in Birmingham and were looking to build campaigns of their own.

Sex Education: The LGBT Debate in Schools - Panorama, will be broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One today at 20:30.

Some of today's headlines on the Express and Star website are:

• Black Country to get
• Businessman after Rick Wakeman deal went wrong
• Gambling

Sara Khan, hired by the government to tackle extremism, says teachers should have had more support.

A "significant" amount of cocaine along with a gun, knives and illegal steroids have been seized by police in Stafford over the weekend in an operation focusing on serious crime.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

Eleven people were arrested after raids on five properties. Ten vehicles were also stopped.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

The "intelligence-led" operation also recovered cannabis with an estimated value of £11,000 along with £8,000 in cash.

A Cheshire man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a one-year-old boy.

Image source, Google

The toddler was found with head injuries at a house in Speke, Liverpool, on Friday evening. He was taken to hospital but did not survive.

Officers were called to the address in Belsford Way by the ambulance service at about 18:00, Merseyside Police said.

A 23-year-old man from Winsford remains in police custody.

Drugs with a street value of tens of thousands of pounds - including some buried underground - have been sniffed out by police dogs in Birmingham city centre.

Image source, West Midlands Police

The dogs found more than 100 bags of class B drugs between April and June, the West Midlands force said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Officers also seized a handful of knives, including a machete, during an operation which saw patrols stepped up in the Millennium Point area, next to Eastside City Park, following concerns over drugs and robberies.

A woman whose sister was killed in the Birmingham pub bombings has launched a bid to become a police and crime commissioner.

Julie Hambleton has campaigned on behalf of victims' families since her sister Maxine died in the 1974 attacks.

She hopes to be elected as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) at the polls next May.

Ms Hambleton said she would not be a "one-issue candidate" but declined to confirm any policies.

Rich Davis
´óÏó´«Ã½ Weather presenter

It will be a dry and fine day with light winds and highs of 22C (72F).

Vanessa Pearce
´óÏó´«Ã½ News

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