Summary

  • An independent review into how the Church of England handled the case of a Sussex bishop accused of being a child abuser will be published later today.

  • The church has apologised to the relatives of former Bishop of Chichester George Bell for the way it investigated the claims.

  • Primary School children in Medway and East Sussex have fallen below the government's expectations with less than 65% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

  • The family of East Sussex adventurer Christian Velten - who went missing in West Africa 14 years ago - are still hoping he will make his way home after he was apparently seen begging.

  • News, sport, weather and travel updates for the South East of England

  1. Is this the UK's fittest pensioner?published at 00:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    A 76-year-old who once competed against Arnold Schwarzenegger in Mr Universe says he is now fitter than the Hollywood superstar.

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  2. Reward offered over gym stabbing murderpublished at 23:15 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Charlie Riddington used the alias Barry Ryan when he flew to Germany from Manchester.

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  3. Maidstone United 1-2 Ebbsfleet Unitedpublished at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Maidstone's winless run in the National League extends to 10 matches after a 2-1 defeat by Ebbsfleet.

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  4. Injured Brown to miss rest of seasonpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    On-loan forward Izzy Brown will miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee ligament injury in Brighton's FA Cup third-round win over Crystal Palace.

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  5. Woman dies in Broadstairs house firepublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    The fire broke out in a three-storey house in Broadstairs, Kent, on Monday evening

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  6. Woman dies as fire sweeps through housepublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    An investigation's underway into a fatal house fire, which broke out around 18:30 GMT last night in Rectory Road, Broadstairs.

  7. Top five questions for education new boy Damian Hindspublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    What are the tricky challenges lying in wait for the new education secretary?

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  8. Police continue search for missing teenagerpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Yasmine Djadoudi
    BBC Live reporter

    Police are growing increasingly concerned for a Crawley teenager who hasn't been seen for more than two months.

    Mohamed Chikhi, 17, hasn't been heard from or seen at his home in the Pound Hill area since 2 November.

    Officers say Mohamed has connections in Crawley, Worthing and Brighton and have asked anyone who sees him or knows where he might be to contact Sussex Police.

    Mohamed ChikhiImage source, Sussex Police
  9. Knife-wielding robbers strike twice in two dayspublished at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Police are searching for a pair of robbers who held up two Sussex supermarkets at knife-point in two days.

    They first struck at the Co-op in Fairlight Road, Ore, near Hastings, just before 23:00 GMT on 3 January, threatening staff and escaping with £150 in cash.

    The following day the two men are believed to have carried out an almost identical raid at the Co-op in Sea Road, Winchelsea Beach, this time grabbing £3,500, as well as alcohol and cigarettes.

    Knifepoint robberies in Sussex Co-op'sImage source, Sussex Police

    Detectives believe they may have used a dark saloon car as a getaway vehicle in both robberies.

  10. Lack of help for Shoreham victims 'defies logic'published at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    Conservative MP Tim LoughtonImage source, ParliamentLive
    Image caption,

    Conservative MP Tim Loughton

    A Sussex MP has once more raised the case of the Shoreham air crash victims and their families at a parliamentary debate.

    A Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27 in Shoreham, West Sussex, on 22 August 2015, killing 11 men.

    Their families have been denied legal aid.

    Speaking at Westminster Hall, East Worthing and Shoreham Conservative MP Tim Loughton said: "It defies logic why in this exceptional case, they have not qualified for exceptional cases funding."

    At the inquest into their deaths, the victims' families are likely to be the only parties not legally represented which Mr Loughton said was an "inequality of arms" which could "undermine the inquest's ability to serve the public interest".

    Dr Phillip Lee MPImage source, ParliamentLive
    Image caption,

    Dr Phillip Lee MP

    Dr Phillip Lee MP said the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) would reflect on the comments in its new reform agenda but added: "Our job is to make sure the most vulnerable have the support they need, and that precious and finite resources are made available to that end."

    He said the MOJ was looking to reduce the number of lawyers involved on all sides in future cases.

  11. Rapist jailed for series of assaultspublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Yasmine Djadoudi
    BBC Live reporter

    Dominic PhoenixImage source, Kent Police

    A rapist has been jailed for carrying out a series of assaults over a 13-year period.

    Dominic Phoenix, 43, from Wood Street, Dover, was convicted of eight rapes and one indecent assault that took place between 2002 and 2015 in Deal.

    Kent Police said Phoenix was arrested in 2015 after a teenage girl came forward

    He was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Monday at Canterbury Crown Court.

    Det Con Emily Hooper said Phoenix repeatedly denied the charges, which "were absolutely unthinkable", and the trial had been "extremely upsetting" for those involved.Phoenix will serve an additional four years on licence upon his release.

  12. 'Oldest' darts player in equality callpublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Paula Jacklin said there should be more prize money available to women.

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  13. Council approves fossil fuel explorationpublished at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Despite nearly 3,000 objections a Sussex council agrees to let an oil company search an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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  14. Kent band first to be signed to new record labelpublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Yasmine Djadoudi
    BBC Live reporter

    Punk rock duo Slaves have signed a band from Tunbridge Wells to their new record label.

  15. Shoreham air crash pre-inquest review postponedpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Yasmine Djadoudi
    BBC Live reporter

    Men that died in Shoreham air crashImage source, BBC/SUSSEX POLICE/FACEBOOK

    A pre-inquest review into the deaths of 11 men at the Shoreham airshow disaster has been postponed.

    The inquest was due to take place on Wednesday 24 January but has now been rescheduled for Monday 26 March.

    The men were all killed when a Hawker Hunter jet crashed during a display at the Shoreham Airshow on 22 August 2015.

    According to Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield, the Crown Prosecution Service said a decision on whether or not the pilot of the aircraft would be charged, would not be made in time for the start of the review.

    Pilot Andy Hill, who was carrying out an aerobatic manoeuvre at the time, was among 13 others who were injured.

  16. Stolen parking meter cash woman sentencedpublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Cheryl Prudham, 34, admitted handling money her husband Robert had stolen from his employer.

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  17. Woman offers cash reward for lost ringpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Joanna and James on their wedding dayImage source, Danni Beach
    Image caption,

    Joanna is "desperate" for the diamond ring back

    A woman is offering a £500 reward for the safe return of her wedding ring which she believes she lost on a train.

    Joanna Baxter, 33, from Wivelsfield Green in East Sussex, said the cash will be offered with "no questions asked".

    The ring is engraved with the name of her husband and the date of their wedding - "James 17.2.17"

    Ms Baxter said she took the Southern train at 17:23 GMT from London Bridge to Haywards Heath last Thursday. From there, she took the 18:12 GMT to Plumpton.

    She told the BBC: "It's our first wedding anniversary next month and I am desperate to get it back by then."

    Her tweet to Southern rail appealing for help has been shared more than a thousand times.

    The ringsImage source, Danni Beach
    Image caption,

    The diamond wedding ring was lost on a train last Thursday

  18. 'Dirty oil' plans approvedpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    Councillors have approved plans for an oil company to explore for fossil fuels in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, despite nearly 3,000 people objecting.

    Cuadrilla Resources drilled a well in Balcombe in 2013 to test for oil flow but the initial licence has expired.

    West Sussex County Council agreed to allow its new application to explore the Lower Stumble site.

    Campaigners fear if oil is found, the company will begin further drilling, at a detriment to the local environment and community.

  19. Ebbsfleet sign Wilson from Port Valepublished at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    National League side Ebbsfleet United sign defender Lawrie Wilson from League Two club Port Vale.

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  20. Woman dies in house firepublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018
    Breaking

    Firefighters at scene of fireImage source, @brenmar

    A woman aged in her 50s has died after a fire at a house in Rectory Road, Broadstairs, yesterday evening.

    Kent Police was called at 18:49 GMT to help Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

    The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Police say her next of kin have been informed and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

    Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.