Image source, Brighton Dome

The Brighton Dome has been given a lifeline after receiving a grant of £445,000 to help the venue's short-term survival.

The arts venue lost 67% of its self-generated income through ticket sales and events after it closed its doors in March due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Andrew Comben, chief executive of the Brighton Dome, said: "The impacts of this crisis are set to continue beyond September and we welcome further government guidance on a longer-term strategy for live venues and events and how arts organisations will receive further support through their £1.57bn fund."

He said the Dome's "loyal audiences" had started a fund-raising campaign, which had been "both overwhelming and invaluable".

Brighton Pride is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a digital festival.

Gurinderjit Rai, 41, was killed in Corhampton in what police believe was a targeted attack.

A 62-year-old man, who was known to campaigner Jackie Hoadley, remains in police custody.

Richard Robinson "deviously victimised" the women "to extract from them everything he could".

Image source, Getty Images

Sandwich chain Pret A Manger is to close 30 outlets, including one in West Sussex, and is expected to cut at least 1,000 jobs at other shops as part of a post-pandemic restructuring.

The company said the impact of coronavirus on trading meant it had to make a "difficult decision" to close shops including in Chichester.

Pret said it needed to reduce headcount across its UK shops to "reflect lower footfall, rental costs and new safety measures".

It did not say how many jobs would go, but a source confirmed more than 1,000.

About 330 jobs will be lost with the closure of the 30 shops. Pret said 339 of its 410 shops have so far reopened following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

All the latest coronavirus news from across Sussex, Kent and Surrey.

Leandro Trossard's winner nudges Norwich City closer to relegation as Brighton all but ensure a fourth straight season in the Premier League with a rare away win.

Dozens of people gather at Brighton seafront in protest against British Airways' plans to cut staff.

Brighton and Hove is well-prepared to deal with a second wave of Covid-19, a senior councillor has said.

It comes as Brighton and Hove City Council published its local outbreak plan, external, which sets out how it intends to prevent and contain a coronavirus outbreak in the city.

Councillor Clare Moonan, chair of Brighton and Hove City Council’s health and wellbeing board, said it was important for everyone to take precautions to prevent a rash of cases.

She said: “Until a vaccine is found, we must all learn to live alongside Covid.

“We must take all necessary actions to keep the city Covid secure and we must also be ready to respond quickly if further outbreaks do happen.

"Covid-19 is still prevalent and it is still a dangerous highly infectious disease which can kill people.”

Image source, James Robertshaw

The reopening of a pier in East Sussex has been postponed due to a forecast of bad weather.

Crowds were due to gather on Grade II-listed Hastings Pier tomorrow for the first time since lockdown.

But a forecast of wind and rain has forced organisers to postpone the event until 6 July.

Hastings mayor Nigel Sinden and National Piers Society chairman Tim Wardley will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Public services across Sussex are preparing for a surge in demand this weekend with the combination of the relaxation of social distancing measures and warmer weather.

Officials at the Sussex Resilience Forum, an umbrella organisation which includes emergency services, health organisations and local authorities, urged people to “stay alert” to Covid-19 and avoid placing strain on the NHS and other public services.

Image source, Sussex Resilence Forum

The message came after huge numbers of vehicles last week gridlocked roads leading to beaches at Camber Sands near Rye and police were left dealing with large gatherings in Brighton and Hove.

Chair of the Sussex Resilience Forum, Assistant Chief Constable, Dave Miller, said: “Our businesses and communities are understandably welcoming the further easing of restrictions planned.

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy the additional freedom this will bring but our plea is to do this safely and to avoid placing additional strain on emergency services and the health service that have all worked so hard to prevent the public during this pandemic.

“The fact that the re-opening coincides with the 72nd anniversary of our health service, which has demonstrated its incredible resilience and relentless care throughout this pandemic, makes our message even more important.”

A resort's midwife-led maternity unit is to reopen next week, the local MP has said.

The facility at the Eastbourne District General Hospital (DGH) was closed on 30 March in anticipation of a potential influx of Covid-19 patients.

Expectant mothers instead had to travel 19 miles along the coast to the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards where there is a consultant-led unit.

But now Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell has said the midwife-led unit at the DGH will reopen on 6 July, and described it as "brilliant news",

She said: "We all understood the temporary change as necessary back in March but it is hugely important that mums have choice over their delivery and that babies can be born in our home town.

“It won’t have been easy for mothers to change their plans and to travel to Conquest but this is coming to an end and quicker than I thought."

Staff at a Brighton hospital fear beach-trippers are risking a surge in cases.

Karen Dunn
Local Democracy Reporter

A second Crawley councillor has resigned from the Labour Party – leaving the Conservatives with the most seats on the borough council.

Rory Fiveash, who represents Bewbush and North Broadfield, announced his decision today.

The news comes less than a day after his mother and fellow councillor, Karen Sudan, quit the party following allegations of anti-Semitism.

Mrs Sudan, who represents Northgate and West Green at both West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council, said she decided to leave the party so that she could defend herself against the allegations, which centre around three tweets on her Twitter feed.

She said: “I’m not an anti-Semite. If these three tweets are evidence of it, it’s pathetic.”

Mr Fiveash said he had been "under investigation" by the party for more than a year over three emails he had sent, one of which shared his concerns about the selection process for the 2019 elections. He said that in another email he had made "an ironic reference to mansplaining".

Mr Fiveash said "gossip" had been circulating about the investigation "with many different stories being spun about the nature of it".

He added: “This is the reality of the party’s complaints system – investigations are launched and left to sit for years while good people have their names dragged through the mud locally.”

Mr Fiveash said he had warned the party three months ago that he would quit unless the matter was cleared up but – aside from some initial platitudes – had heard nothing.

He said: “A great amount of time, energy and stress have gone into trying to clear this matter up. I need that energy to work for the people I represent.

“They are among the most vulnerable in our town and they always pay the highest price in a crisis. “They need and deserve my full attention now. In order to give my best to them I have, with huge reluctance, decided to resign from the Labour Party.”

Meanwhile, Crawley Conservative MP Henry Smith said now was not the time for the local Labour Party to be engaged in "personality politics".

Jennifer Johnson is alleged to have lied about key evidence at her ex's first murder trial in 1987.

Image source, James Robertshaw

Hastings Pier is set to reopen this weekend for the first time since lockdown.

The Grade-II listed attraction will have a number of open air facilities on its sprawling decking, including a beer garden, open air cinema and fairground rides.

The reopening on Saturday of the 280m (919ft) long pier will be conducted by Tim Wardley, chairman of the National Piers Society, and mayor of Hastings, Nigel Sinden.

Manchester United brush Brighton aside with a vibrant, all-round display to stay in the race for a Champions League spot.

The child was in a kayak with his family when he was hit by a line cast by an angler on the shore.

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

At the start of June we met 103-year-old Joan Willett, who is walking to raise money for charity.

Unable to get out during lockdown, she's tackling a steep hill at her care home in Hastings every day.

Inspired by Captain Tom, the 100-year-old who raised millions for the NHS, she's being sponsored and has so far raised about £9,000 for the British Heart Foundation as a thank you for the care she received when she needed heart surgery in her 80s.

Joan is still going - she plans to climb the hill every day until she turns 104 on 19 July.