Summary

  • The QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing has been reopened between junctions 31 and 1A on the M25. There are still long delays in Essex and Kent.

  • Britain is to accept more migrants from Calais - particularly children on their own - as part of a new deal with France.

  • A key vote on jobs, homes and new businesses in Thanet will take place tonight - amid a bitter row over the future of Manston Airport.

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

  1. Baby girl dead after two-car crashpublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    The seven-month-old died in hospital after the crash in West Sussex.

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  2. Paralysed mum's home DIY SOS is answeredpublished at 09:03 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Amanda Worne was left unable to walk after a cycling accident in 2015.

  3. Baby girl killed in crashpublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    A baby girl died and a young boy was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening head injuries following a collision at Newpound Common, near Wisborough Green, West Sussex.

    Emergency services were called to the scene on the B2133 at Newpound at 16:17 GMT on Wednesday where a Mazda 3 and a Vauxhall Corsa had collided.

    The seven-month-old girl was taken to Worthing Hospital, but died at 18:36.

    The five-year-old boy remained in a critical condition at St George's Hospital in Tooting on Wednesday night.

    Both children were in the Mazda and the driver, who is aged 31, suffered chest injuries while a 27-year-old female passenger suffered serious leg injuries.

    The driver of the Corsa, a 36-year-old man from Pulborough, sustained serious chest injuries and was taken to Worthing Hospital.

    Sussex Police is appealing for witnesses.

  4. M25 rapist has sentence reviewedpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    A serial sex attacker, who was jailed in 2004 for seven rapes in a year, is being considered for parole, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

    Antoni Imiela, whose victims included a 10-year-old girl he kidnapped at knife-point and put through a five-hour ordeal, was given seven life sentences but has only served just over 13 years.

    The Parole Board confirmed that the Ministry of Justice has referred him for an parole review.

    Antoni Imiela
    Image caption,

    Antoni Imiela

    A spokeswoman said: "The review is following the standard six month process for all indeterminate sentence prisoners and will be reviewed on the papers in the first instance.

    "The review may be concluded on the papers or alternatively it may be directed to an oral hearing.”

    Imiela was previously living in Appledore, Kent and worked in Rye, East Sussex.

    His attacks spanned Forest Hill and Wimbledon Common, London; Ashford, Kent; Earlswood, Woking and Epsom, Surrey; Stevenage, Hertfordshire; and Birmingham.

  5. Two arrests as armed police called to incidentpublished at 07:59 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Two men have been arrested after reports of someone carrying a weapon in Sittingbourne in the early hours of Wednesday.

    Police were called to London Road at 02:53 GMT on 10 January, with armed officers sent as a precaution.

    A 33-year-old was arrested at the scene, and a 32-year-old from Chatham was arrested later.

  6. A2 closed until 11:00 GMTpublished at 07:58 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Lizzie Massey
    BBC Live reporter

    The A2 near Canterbury is not expected to be cleared and reopened before 11:00 GMT, according to Highways England.

    A collision between a car and a van on the London-bound carriageway has seen the stretch between J7 of the M2 and the A28 junction closed in both directions.

    People travelling eastbound are advised to exit the M2 at J6 and take the A251 towards the A28.

    Those heading westbound should exit the A2 at Thannington to take the A28.

    Diversions are signed with black solid circles.

  7. Why we're more than just gig buddiespublished at 01:17 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    A charity pairs people with learning difficulties, who feel daunted by going to gigs, with volunteers.

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  8. Bigamist's live TV appearance leads to jailpublished at 22:04 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Daniel Gundry admitted bigamy after he was spotted by his wife on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

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  9. Man pleads guilty over abuse videopublished at 20:21 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Police had warned parents about a "disturbing" video being shared on social media.

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  10. Young offenders 'hit, stabbed and cut'published at 19:46 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Four men go on trial accused of assaulting children at a young offenders centre.

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  11. Thursday's playing misty for uspublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Nina Ridge
    BBC Weather

    It's all change for Thursday, after Wednesday's sunshine. Here's my forecast.

  12. Is this the UK's fittest 76-year-old?published at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Ted Pollard once competed against Arnold Schwarzenegger in Mr Universe.

  13. McVey welfare role 'alarming', says Labourpublished at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Labour says the new work and pensions secretary has "baggage" but condemns social media attacks on her.

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  14. Bigamist found out by TV appearance jailedpublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Daniel Gundry admits bigamy after being spotted by his wife on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

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  15. Police seek high speed train sex attackerpublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Police hunting a man who carried out a sex attack on a high speed train in Kent have issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to.

    A 20-year-old woman joined the Dover Priory train at St Pancras, when a stranger sat opposite her.

    CCTV of HS1 sex attackerImage source, British Transport Police

    He appeared drunk and began making inappropriate comments, before sitting next to her and trying to kiss her and hold her hand.

    He got off the train at Ebbsfleet.

  16. A&E nurses face 'atrocious conditions'published at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    A union claims overcrowding and short staffing are harming patients at the William Harvey Hospital.

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  17. Peterborough sign Woking winger Wardpublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Peterborough United sign Joe Ward from National League side Woking for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal.

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  18. Man pleads guilty over 'widely shared' indecent videopublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    A man has pleaded guilty to eight sexual offences after several police forces were alerted in December to a video containing indecent images of two children.

    Police in Northamptonshire, Bristol and Brighton issued warnings and a school in Bristol urged parents to check their children's phones for the "widely shared" video.

    phone

    Daniel Norton, 26, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to three counts of causing a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

    He also admitted three counts of making indecent photos of a child, and charges of distributing indecent photos and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

    Norton, of Cheadle, Stockport, was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 1 February.

  19. School bags searched for unhealthy foodpublished at 16:38 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    The Charles Dickens School says any unhealthy food and drinks found will not be returned to pupils.

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  20. Attack leaves woman with broken anklepublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    A 42-year-old woman had her ankle broken in an attack in Bognor Regis.

    She was walking with a group of other women after visiting a pub when it happened.

    She was also stamped on, leaving her with cuts and bruises.

    CCTV of Bognor Regis attack suspectsImage source, Sussex Police

    Police have issued CCTV images of two women they'd like to speak to in connection with the attack.

    Four women, aged 21, 28, 34 and 46, all from Bognor Regis, have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent.