Hip-hop musicians, jazz composers and ballroom dancing experts are to benefit from a near-300,000 grant for West Midlands artists.

The Arts Council England, which hands out funds to arts projects each month, is to give £279,659 for September - £79,000 more than the previous month.

Local musicians will be the main benefactors, but cash will also be given to Herefordshire Libraries to fund a writer-in-residence to promote creative writing and story telling.

The money will also help fund next month's theatre festival in Wolverhampton.