The organiser of a birthday party attended by up to 60 people has been handed a £10,000 fine after allegedly flouting lockdown rules.

West Midlands Police released body-worn video footage filmed by officers attending a function room in Dale Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton showing dozens of revellers filing out the exit.

Inside the venue were balloon arches, food and drinks left scattered on tables, and a kitchen piled high with soft drinks and hard liquor, despite the premises having no alcohol licence.

In the footage, officers could be seen examining a card reader machine and pulling out a drawer stuffed with bank notes, during the call-out on October 30.

Superintendent Simon Inglis, of West Midlands Police, said: “This was a blatant breach of coronavirus law.”

He added the fine was “necessary” given it was a “critical time for the health of the city”.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Wolverhampton city council cabinet member for public health, said: “We all have a key role to play in the fight against Covid-19.

“Arranging and taking part in a party like this contravenes just about every Covid-19 regulation going and I am sure law-abiding residents will be as disgusted as I am at the actions of others who, through their thoughtlessness, are putting people’s lives at risk.”

The latest NHS statistics showed 761 people in the city had tested positive for Covid-19 in the week to Thursday.

There are 289 cases per 100,000 people, in Wolverhampton.

The most recent bed occupancy figures showed the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was treating 43 Covid-19 patients on Tuesday, about 10% of whom were on ventilators.