Image source, PA

A woman who paid privately for weight loss reduction surgery says she would have died without the treatment.

There were more than 780 admissions in Sussex, Kent and Surrey last year, a 6% rise on the year before.

In a programme tonight on BBC2 Karen Hardwicke, from East Sussex, describes the choice she had to make in deciding whether to wait or pay for her own surgery.

We'll have more on this on BBC South East Today at 18:30 BST.

The digger was being driven back to the beach when it became stuck, its operator says.

Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter

David Henty has been reported to the police, he's served a prison sentence for forging passports and he's banned from selling his work on some online auction sites.

Despite that, his copies fetch thousands of pounds - and in June he'll exhibit his versions of Van Gogh, Caravaggio and Modigliani masterpieces in Brighton.

Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Sussex and England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has taken her first steps in a return to action following an indefinite break from the game to deal with anxiety problems. 

The 27-year-old has joined England at their training camp in the UAE for the first time since May 2016.

Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter

Police are looking for Chadley Perry Parsons after he broke the terms of his release from prison.

Image source, Sussex Police

The 23-year-old from Brighton had been serving a 26-month sentence for false imprisonment. 

He was released on licence on 22 March but officers say he's failed to comply with the terms of the licence.   

Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

More than 20 million cars are expected to be on the roads and more than 200 rail engineering works are taking place over Easter.

The busiest day for the great getaway will be Thursday, with drivers being warned some journeys could take 90 minutes longer than usual.

Unsurprisingly the M25 is included as well as the Dartford Crossing.

Network Rail is also carrying out a number of works on the railways.

You can read the full guide  here  . 

Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter

More than a third of care homes in Kent and Sussex are unsatisfactory, according to a charity.

Independent Age says more than a third of homes in the South East are rated as "inadequate" or "requires improvement".  

Danny Pike
Presenter, BBC Sussex

Join the conversation with me on  BBC Sussex  at 09:00.

Call 03459 570057 or find us on Twitter, external .

Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter

This 80-tonne digger has been stuck in the sea off the Sussex coast for a week.

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

Image source, Eddie Mitchell

The company behind the Rampion offshore wind farm say they're still trying to work out how to remove the excavator.

It became stranded after completing its work to fill where ducts had been dug for cable installed last year.

Meanwhile a survey by the Worthing Herald, external has come up with a name for the piece of kit: "Moby Dig".

Image source, PA

There are calls for a clampdown on drinking at airports such as Gatwick following a rise in passengers disrupting flights.

A House of Lords Select Committee has found alcohol is too easily available, and people are drinking even before breakfast.

Sussex Police also sent under 18s to buy alcohol at the airport and found all but one of the premises were selling to them.

The committee wants restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol at airports - which are currently exempt from the 2003 Licensing Act. 

Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter

Lewes FC Ladies are donating gate receipts from their last four home matches this season to women's charities.

It's in honour of the pioneers of the women's game who were big news a century ago.

We've got plenty of sunshine around today, but there will be a few bits of cloud too.

Here's my forecast.

Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter

Can you get a more classic shot of Sussex than this one taken by Kristie Heath of Eastbourne Pier, which is our  #photooftheday, external ?

If you can we'd love to see it.

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

We'll be here until 22:00 BST with all of Sussex's news, sport, travel and weather.  

Image source, Kristie Heath