Summary

  • Updates on Wednesday 15 March 2017

  1. That's it from uspublished at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Thank you for joining us today. We'll be back at 06:00 GMT with more news, sport, weather and travel.

    Don't forget, if you've got a story for us, please get in touch.

    You can get in touch on  Twitter, external , on  Facebook, external  or by sending us an  email

  2. #ICYMI: What does Sun Baby look like now?published at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    It's 20 years since the Teletubbies first bounced onto TV.

    So what does the Sun Baby - Jess Smith from Medway - look like now?  

  3. Southern passengers react to strike dealpublished at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Southern rail passengers in Eastbourne have been giving their reaction to the Aslef strike deal.

    Read More
  4. Lucky escape air for this deer...published at 20:36 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Claire Cottingham
    BBC Live reporter

    And for BBC Radio Kent journalist Alex Ward who caught this video on her dash-cam as she drove to Tunbridge Wells yesterday.  

  5. Hot Hot Hotpublished at 20:08 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    It's been the warmest day of the year out there, with temperatures peaking at 18.6C in Gravesend.

    Don't forget to send us your spring photos.

    You can get in touch on  Twitter, external , on  Facebook, external  or by sending us an  email .  

    Sunshine and cloudsImage source, SPL
  6. Southern rail passengers give their reaction to Aslef strike dealpublished at 19:44 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Southern rail passengers in Eastbourne give their reaction to the Aslef strike deal which was announced today. Parent company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said both sides had secured a "recommended deal" after "constructive talks".

  7. Have you got a story that needs to be investigated?published at 19:21 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    If so, get in touch with the award-winning BBC South East Today investigations team.       

  8. The National Trust's biggest restoration projectpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    A £20m investment is underway to restore historic Knole House in Sevenoaks.

    You can read the full story  here .  

  9. Southern strike deal: Analysispublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Paul Clifton
    Transport correspondent, BBC South Today

    This is not a done deal – yet. 

    Last month the drivers rejected a deal that had been brokered by their own union. Neither the union nor the company had expected that.

    The margin wasn’t large – 55% against – and the two sides have been talking ever since to find a way of bringing a majority of the union members back on board.

    Aslef picket lineImage source, PA

    We’ve not been told the details of the revised agreement.

    But it’s likely to include further improvements to the CCTV monitoring systems that drivers use when closing the train doors.

    That agreement will now be put to a second ballot among drivers, with the result due on 3 April.

    Passengers will be crossing their fingers that this time the deal will be strong enough to stick.

    But the separate dispute involving train guards is not part of this deal, and the year-long action by the RMT union continues.

    Crowded Southern trainImage source, PA
  10. Tributes to 'kind and gentle' soap starpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Actors like Sir Tony Robinson are among those leaving tributes for Emmerdale star Tony Haygarth.

    Read More
  11. Deal struck over Southern Rail disputepublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    A deal aimed at ending the dispute between Southern Railway and the Aslef union over driver-only trains is agreed.

    Read More
  12. Southern strike deal: RMT statementpublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Quote Message

    RMT has not seen the detail of the proposed outline agreement between GTR and Aslef and we are of course requesting a full copy as it goes to the heart of our disputes with the company. In the meantime RMT is pressing yet again for urgent talks with the company in our guards and drivers disputes.

    Mick Cash, General Secretary, RMT

  13. Deal agreed over Southern strikepublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017
    Breaking

    Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the parent company of Southern railway, and Aslef today announced they have agreed a deal to settle their dispute.

    The agreement will now be put to Aslef members in Southern in a referendum, with a recommendation from the union's Executive to accept.

    The two sides say that subject to securing the support of Aslef members, the dispute between the union and Southern will be over.

    Mick Whelan, General Secretary of Aslef, said: "Aslef members now have the opportunity to decide on the new terms of the agreed resolution with GTR Southern.

    "This agreement has the full support of the negotiating team and the executive committee, and offers solutions to our concerns, as well as restoring the confidence of all parties, and the travelling public".

    Southern trainsImage source, Getty Images

    GTR Director Andy Bindon said: "We've had constructive talks with Aslef and we're pleased we've been able to secure a recommended deal, subject to approval from its members, to end their dispute.

    "It's been an extraordinarily difficult period for passengers, staff and the regional economy and we are glad we've found a way to move forward together. We look forward to restoring good industrial relations with Aslef".

    The result of the referendum will be on 3 April. Until then, GTR and Aslef intend to make no further statements.

  14. #ICYMI: Your amazing picturespublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    Thank you for all of the amazing pictures you've been sending us on  Twitter, externalFacebook, external  and by  email .

    We loved them so much that we decided to create a music montage of just some of the best.

    Please keep them coming.

  15. #ICYMI: What does Sun Baby look like now?published at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    PM VERSION

    It's 20 years since the Teletubbies first bounced onto TV.

    So what does the Sun Baby - Jess Smith from Medway - look like now?  

  16. Rapist jailed over girl's 1996 attackpublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    A "predatory" rapist who plied a girl with alcohol before subjecting her to a " horrific ordeal " has been jailed for more than 20 years.  

    John TraceyImage source, Lancashire Police

    John Tracey, of Station Road in Gillingham, Kent, denied raping the 14-year-old at a flat in Thornton, near Blackpool.

    But the 42-year-old was found guilty at Preston Crown Court of the November 1996 attack and jailed for 10 years.

  17. #ICYMI: Hat-trick hero: 'Over the moon'published at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    I spoke to Gillingham FC's Josh Wright - brother of Towie's Mark - who described the incredible moment he scored a hat-trick of penalties, to grab victory over Scunthorpe United at the weekend.    

  18. What's your #onegooddeed?published at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    All this month BBC Radio Kent is asking you to do #onegooddeed.

    Maybe it could be donating to a food bank?

  19. Rapist jailed over girl's 1996 attackpublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    John Tracey has a previous conviction for raping a girl, 12, in 2003, said police.

    Read More
  20. Visiting the South East's beautiful gardenspublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March 2017

    Stuart Maisner
    BBC Live reporter

    Gardens across the South East that are opening to the public under the banner of the National Gardens Scheme have been announced. Details here, external