Homeless murder-accused had taken cocainepublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
A man accused of murdering rough sleeper Razvan Sirbu admits he was a bit high on cocaine, a court hears.
Read MoreSummary
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
Homeless murder-accused had taken cocainepublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Brighton losses rise in promotion yearpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Brighton and Hove Albion's losses increased by £13.1m to nearly £40m in the season they were promoted to the Premier League.
Read MoreMountain bikes stolen from Kent family storepublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporterPolice officers are appealing for information after thieves smashed a shop window in Paddock Wood and stole three mountain bikes.
The break-in was reported at 08:43 GMT at Everden Cycles on Maidstone Road on Sunday 17 December.
A large rock was used to break through the glass window of the shop.
Image source, Kent Police
Image source, Kent Police
Image source, Kent PoliceMP's aid calls for sex charge anonymitypublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
MP's aide cleared of rape says those accused of sex crimes should have anonymity until they are convicted.
Read MoreRoad reopens after lorry overturns on Sussex roadpublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporterPolice and firefighters have reopened a road in East Sussex after it was blocked by an overturned lorry.
The incident took place in London road in Crowborough earlier.
Police and firefighters say the driver was not injured.
'I've lost my job, I've lost my home'published at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Helen Catt
Political editor, BBC South EastSamuel Armstrong, who was found not guilty of raping a woman in South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay's office, has called for anonymity for people accused of sex crimes.
CCTV appeal following serious assault in Kentpublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporterPolice have released CCTV images of two young men after a serious assault in Kent.
The incident took place in New Road in Gravesend at around 00:45 GMT on Sunday 12 November.
A 28-year-old man was walking with his girlfriend when the pair became involved in an altercation with a group of young people.
The man was then reportedly punched to the floor and kicked in the head.
Officers hope the men pictured in the CCTV images can assist with their enquiries.
Image source, Kent policeSanta's little helper: The boy helping Brighton's homelesspublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporterWhat do most 10-year-old boys want for Christmas?
Probably the latest toy or gadget.
Not Layton Munnery from Portslade.
Pier ruins lit up at nightpublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporter
Image source, Finn HopsonLocal photographer Finn Hopson took this photo of Brighton's derelict West Pier being illuminated for the first time in 40 years.
British Airways i360 has partnered with the West Pier Trust to light up the much-loved ruin.
Each evening after twilight, and after the starling murmuration has finished, simple white lights will pick out the standing ruin until midnight.
Fire being investigatedpublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Lizzie Massey
BBC Live reporterA blaze at a holiday clubhouse has been brought under control after four hours.
From 04:14 GMT, 35 firefighters worked to quell the fire in Dymchurch Road, New Romney.
Six fire engines were sent out, and this was scaled down to two by 06:00 GMT.
A spokeswoman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the gas and electrics have been isolated and the cause of the fire is being investigated.
Fire crews tackle large roof blazepublished at 07:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 December 2017
Lizzie Massey
BBC Live reporterKent Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene of a large fire in the roof of a clubhouse in a holiday village.
There are six fire engines at the building on Dymchurch Road, New Romney.
More to follow.
Taxi set alight with driver insidepublished at 19:10 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
A taxi driver had a lucky escape after his car was set alight by two men at a Hythe petrol station.
Read MoreMP's aide cleared of Westminster rapepublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Samuel Armstrong says he drank spirits with the woman in MP Craig Mackinlay's Westminster office.
Read MoreAppeal to find toddler's lost toypublished at 17:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Image source, Louise Regan-AlexanderImage caption, Finn has had Mac the monkey since birth
A family is appealing for help in reuniting a toddler with a cuddly toy lost on a flight from Gatwick to Knock.
Louise Regan-Alexander said her son Finn, aged two-and-a-half, left Mac the monkey on a seat down the side of the Aer Lingus aircraft on Tuesday.
A tweet appealing for help in finding Mac, external has been shared over 1,300 times.
Mrs Regan-Alexander, from Camberwell, south London, said Finn would be "devastated" if the toy could not be found.
The family were travelling to visit Mrs Regan's parents in Ireland for Christmas when the toy was lost on the 12:50 flight.
MP's aide cleared of Westminster rapepublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Samuel Armstrong said his life had been "turned upside down" following accusations.
Read MoreMan sought over attempted abductionpublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Kathryn Langley
BBC Live reporterPolice have released an efit after the attempted abduction of a girl in Polegate.
Image source, Sussex PoliceThe 11-year-old was walking along an alleyway near Farmlands Way when a man tried to grab her wrist.
She managed to run away.
Police say it happened at about 08:30 GMT on Tuesday 5 December.
Murder victim 'hit with meat cleaver'published at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Murdered homeless man Razvan Sirbu was hit with a meat cleaver six or seven times, a court hears.
Read MoreHope of new lead in mystery Alps murderspublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
French police are questioning an ex-soldier who is the main suspect in two other cases in the area.
Read MoreProbe into razor blade threat in courtpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Drug dealer Louis Makai pulled out a razor blade while in the dock and threatened to kill an officer.
Read MoreMP's aide not guilty of rapepublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2017
Breaking
Sara Smith
Reporter, BBC South East
Image source, PAA parliamentary worker has been found not guilty of raping a woman who claimed she was attacked in an MP's Westminster office.
Samuel Armstrong, chief of staff to South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, told Southwark Crown Court the pair had gone to his boss's office to drink wine.
Mr Armstrong has been cleared of four charges - two of rape, two of sexual assault - from October 2016 after a two week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Quote Message“My whole life has been turned upside down. For a year now I’ve not slept or eaten and I was innocent. Were it not for the fact that crucial evidence was disclosed to my defence team just eight working days before trial there could well have been yet another miscarriage of justice in this case.”
Samuel Armstrong