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. Rocks thrown at police cars in Ashfordpublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    Kent PoliceImage source, Kent Police

    Two police cars have been damaged after being hit by rocks in Ashford.

    Between midday and 14:00 GMT on 30 December, three parked cars – two of which were Kent Police vehicles - were damaged when rocks were thrown into the rear of Ashford Police Station in Tufton Street.

    Insp Jason Atkinson said: "It is fortunate no-one was in the cars at the time the rocks were thrown, or there could have easily been serious injuries."

    Police have appealed for witnesses.

  2. Man jailed for violent street killingpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Mohamed Ahmed stabbed another man to death in East Sussex after selling him drugs.

    Read More
  3. Homeless murder-accused 'frightened'published at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    A teenager on trial for murder told a court he thought he was going to be "chopped in half".

    Read More
  4. New technology reveals what life was like in ancient Egyptpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Yasmine Djadoudi
    BBC Live reporter

    A new scanning technique is helping researchers unearth secret messages hidden in mummy cases.

  5. Options unveiled for Worthing centre improvementspublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    A plan to create a "continental-style" boulevard and improve access to Worthing town centre has been unveiled.

    The proposals also include pedestrianising some areas and improving connections from the railway station to the seafront.

    The six key redevelopment sites in the town are Teville Gate, Union Place, Grafton, Stagecoach, Aquarena, and the civic area.

    The growth deal has been agreed by West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council and sets out plans for regeneration in residential, commercial, leisure and retail space over the next five years.

    Details of the plans can be found on the county council's website, external.

  6. Muslim youth clean streets on New Yearpublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Young people from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worked with local councils to tidy their streets.

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  7. Pedestrian dies in new year tragedypublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    A man died when he was hit by a car in the early hours of New Year's Day.

    The victim, who was in his fifties, was crossing Luton Road in Chatham at 01:08 GMT.

    A white Renault Clio was involved.

    A 21-year-old man from Gillingham has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

  8. Bodybuilder sells steroids from living roompublished at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    An amateur bodybuilder has been filmed by the BBC selling steroids from his living room.

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  9. Steroids 'sold illegally to teenagers'published at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Young men are increasingly turning to the drugs in what could be a “hidden epidemic”, experts say.

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  10. Are you joining the '£5k commuter club'?published at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    With rail fares rising again, we speak to those paying £5,000 a year - or more - in travel costs.

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  11. Boy arrested after woman 'sprayed'published at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after a woman was sprayed in the face with an unknown substance which caused a burning sensation.

    The woman was taken to hospital after the attack in Best Street, Chatham, on Monday. She has since been released.

    The boy, arrested on suspicion of assault, is currently in custody, Kent Police said.

  12. Are parents driving grammar expansion?published at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Grammars have been growing, with more than 7,500 extra places being created since 2010.

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  13. Three boys arrested after animal deathspublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Westlands Avenue, SittingbourneImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    The incident happened at a private address in Sittingbourne

    Three children have been arrested after a number of animals were reported to have been killed in Sittingbourne.

    The incident, reported to police on Thursday, happened at a private address in Westlands Avenue.

    Three local boys, aged 12, 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and animal cruelty.

    They have been released pending further investigations, Kent Police said.

  14. Theatre director James Barber diespublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Theatre director James Barber
    Image caption,

    Mr Barber worked for the theatre for nearly 40 years

    The director and chief executive of Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, James Barber, has died.

    Mr Barber had spent nearly 40 years with the theatre. He died on 29 December, aged 59.

    In a statement, the theatre said it was "devastated to lose such a loved and respected leader".

    It said its programme of events would continue as scheduled "because one of the very many things Jamie taught us was that ‘the show must go on’".

    It added: "Our thoughts are with Mr Barber’s family at this most difficult time."

  15. Two Sussex men killed in Kent crashpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Hamish Mureddu-Reid
    BBC News

    A 36-year-old man from Bexhill and a 37-year-old man from Battle have been killed when a car hit a tree near Linton, on Sunday.

    Both the 36-year-old driver and his passenger died at the scene when their Mercedes car crashed at about 22:40 GMT, Kent Police said.

    They were travelling from the Maidstone area when the car hit a tree on Linton Hill at the junction with Stilebridge Lane on New Year's Eve.

    Linton Road junction with Silebridge LaneImage source, Google
  16. A helping handpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    How people who've suffered devastating injuries can have hope, thanks to the pioneering work of surgeons at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.

  17. Car smash caught on camerapublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    A Crawley family are starting 2018 temporarily homeless, after a car crashed into their house on New Year's Eve.

  18. Two killed in collisionpublished at 08:52 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Two people died after the Mercedes car they were travelling in hit a tree in Marden on New Year's Eve.

    It happened in Staplehurst Road at 10:40 GMT.

    Police are investigating the cause of the collision.

  19. Today's local newspaper headlinespublished at 07:58 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    A newspaper printing pressImage source, Getty Images

    Crawley and Horley Observer, external: SECAmb handles 1,000 calls over New Year’s Eve

    Kent Online, external: Kent rail passengers face fare rise of 3.6% from today

    Surrey Mirror, external: This is how Surrey County Council is planning to hit its £100m savings target - and it includes big cuts to adult and children's services

    Eastbourne Herald, external: New Year’s Eve fireworks set Eastbourne roof alight

    Hastings Observer, external: County news - Car collides with house in Sussex town

    Mid Sussex Times, external: Birthday patrons for Chestnut Tree House revealed

    Worthing Herald, external: Lancing teens released after child hurt in BB gun attack

    The Argus, external: First baby of 2018 born in Haywards Heath

    Chichester Observer, external: History brought to life with turn-up-and-go tours

    Brighton and Hove News, external: A happy new year two all – but Albion will rue missed chances

  20. Teenagers arrested over BB gun shootingspublished at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2018

    Sue Nicholson
    BBC News

    Two teenagers have been questioned in connection with a number of reported BB gun shootings in West Sussex.

    A 12-year-old boy was treated for a superficial neck injury after he was shot with a BB gun in North Road, Lancing, at about 18:40 GMT on Friday.

    Sussex Police said they then received further reports of shots being fired at three separate addresses in the town, causing damage but no injuries.

    Two local boys, aged 15 and 17, were arrested and later released under investigation.

    North Road, LancingImage source, Google