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. Giant mural unveiled in Brightonpublished at 10:21 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    Sussex has a brand new piece of outdoor art.

    The Angel of Brighton was painted on a wall in the city's North Laine by artist Cosmo Sarson.

    He mixed four kilograms of gold glitter into paint for the three-storey high mural.

    A three-storey high mural on a wall in BrightonImage source, Cosmo Sarson

    Cosmo also painted the famous Breakdancing Jesus mural in Bristol.

  2. Double amputee teen racing driver makes comebackpublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    This time last year Billy Monger was being tipped by many as the next Lewis Hamilton.

    He was 17 and a star of Formula 4 racing but after a horrific accident in April 2017, he had both his lower legs amputated.

    His recovery and determination have astounded doctors and Billy is making a comeback as a stunt driver

  3. Govia Thameslink franchise 'not provided value for money'published at 09:12 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Southern Rail workerImage source, Getty Images

    Passengers on Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services have suffered the worst rail disruption in the UK, according to a highly critical report.

    The National Audit Office (NAO) said the UK's largest rail franchise had not provided value for money.

    It found the services had been the "worst on the network" since Govia Thameslink (GTR) took over the routes.

    The Department for Transport (DfT) said industrial action had caused a shortage of train crews.

    It is being blamed for not ensuring adequate staffing before awarding the franchise.

    Government spending watchdog the NAO said GTR had too few drivers when it was awarded the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.

    It added that since GTR started operating the full franchise in July 2015, 7.7% of services - about 146,000 services - had either been cancelled or delayed by more than 30 minutes, compared with 2.8% on the rest of the network.

    Of these, more than one third were caused by train crew shortages.

  4. Coming up on BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey at 09:00published at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Do you suffer from some form of hearing loss?

    One in six of us do but we're often too embarrassed to do anything about it.

    Why is that? Join the conversation with Emily Jeffery this morning.

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  5. Paralysed mum's home DIY SOS is answeredpublished at 08:36 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

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

    Read More
  6. Tribute to mother who died in house firepublished at 07:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Julia Brown died in the blaze in Broadstairs, Kent, and her daughter has described as her 'rock'.

    Read More
  7. There could be sunshine aheadpublished at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Kate Kinsella
    BBC Weather

    Another dull start, brightening up later though.

    Here's my latest forecast.

  8. Main line tunnel leaks to be pluggedpublished at 01:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2018

    Work on the Brighton Main Line will close routes for two weeks during half-term holidays.

    Read More
  9. 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.

    Read More
  10. 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.

    Read More
  11. 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.

    Read More
  12. The reshuffle: Who really gained?published at 22:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Day two arguably went better for the prime minister than day one but questions are still being asked about Theresa May's handling of the changes.

    Read More
  13. 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.

    Read More
  14. 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

    Read More
  15. Send in the cloudspublished at 19:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Georgina Burnett
    BBC Weather

    It's getting a little warmer for Wednesday, but staying cloudy. Here's my forecast.

  16. 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.

  17. 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
  18. Experience the thrill of a Spitfire flightpublished at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 9 January 2018

    Have you ever wondered what it's like to fly the iconic Spitfire?

    Now you can find out at a museum in Kent.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.